HM Treasury

Minimum Wage

Justin Madders: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 July 2017 to Question 3508, on the minimum wage, what proportion of the identified arrears have been recovered.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not keep data in a format that would provide information on the proportion of identified arrears that have been recovered. HMRC does however conduct checks with both employers and workers to ensure national minimum wage arrears are repaid to workers and actively pursues recovery through the civil courts where arrears are not paid.

Public Sector: Pay

Colleen Fletcher: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the public sector pay cap on living standards for public sector workers.

Elizabeth Truss: Over recent years, policies to help with the cost of living such as the rise in the personal allowance, worth £1,000 to a basic-rate taxpayer, have also benefited millions of public sector workers.

Cabinet Office: Research

Anneliese Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what research his Department has (a) conducted and (b) commissioned on the difference between public and private sector pay, (i) in general and (ii) for specific grades, specialisms and roles.

Elizabeth Truss: Analysis conducted by Her Majesty’s Treasury to compare public sector pay to that in the private sector shows that on average, when including employer pension contributions, there is a public sector premium of about 10%.The analysis was conducted for the whole public sector rather than specific grades, specialisms and roles. Further details were made available in the House libraries in response to a written question from the Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 19 July 2017.

Public Sector: Pay

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on the proportion of public sector employees who are (a) at the top of their relevant pay scale or (b) did not receive progression pay for any other reason in the most recent financial year for which data exists.

Elizabeth Truss: Departments are responsible for collecting relevant data for the workforces in their areas and it would be for them to confirm the precise data.

Non-domestic Rates: Appeals

Anneliese Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the current number of outstanding business rate appeals lodged with the valuation office is.

Mel Stride: Data on outstanding challenges against the 2010 rating lists in England and Wales, and the 2017 rating lists in Wales, is publicly available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-challenges-and-changes-england-and-wales-june-2017-non-check-challenge-and-appeal-cca

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many customer relationship managers are employed in HM Revenue and Customs high net worth unit.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has 42 customer relationship managers working to ensure compliance amongst the wealthy population.Customer relationship managers are responsible for providing a higher level of scrutiny around the financial affairs of these individuals and their associated tax risks to improve compliance. Each customer relationship manager has a team of staff working with them to support that work.

Taxation: Image rights

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cases HM Revenue and Customs currently has open investigating tax payments on offshore image rights.

Mel Stride: Tax payments on offshore image rights is predominantly an issue in the football industry.HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a project looking at all compliance risks in football to ensure that Football Clubs, players, managers and agents pay the correct amount of tax. Since 2014-15 HMRC has brought in over £260m from tackling non-compliance in the football industry.HMRC currently has enquiries into 38 clubs, 90 players and 13 agents.At Spring Budget 2017 the Chancellor announced HMRC would publish guidance on Image Rights payments to clarify for all employers what tax treatment should be used for such payments. This was published on 16 August and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tax-on-payments-for-use-of-image-rights

Crowdfunding

Bill Esterson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to change the rules governing the level of business lending allowed through non-bank finance providers including peer-to-peer platforms before the UK leaves the EU.

Stephen Barclay: Neither the Government nor the financial regulators set rules regarding levels of business lending allowed through non-bank finance providers. The Government regulates only where there is a clear case for doing so, to avoid putting additional costs on lenders that would ultimately lead to higher costs for business customers.

Williams and Glyn Fund

Bill Esterson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to give non-bank finance providers access to the Williams and Glyn fund on the same commercial terms as banks.

Stephen Barclay: The Government has reached an agreement in principle with the European Commission (EC) on a plan to resolve the Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) final State aid commitment. The plan will see RBS fund and deliver a package of measures to boost competition in business banking. The £425 million Capability & Innovation Fund element of the package will be made available to eligible challenger banks and other financial services providers. Full details, including precise eligibility criteria, will be announced in the Autumn subject to the EC adopting its formal decision.

Crowdfunding

Bill Esterson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the proposals to allow the Bank of England to provide lending through peer-to-peer platforms.

Stephen Barclay: The Bank of England has not put forward any proposals to provide lending through peer-to-peer platforms. The government believes that peer-to-peer platforms can deliver innovative forms of finance for both consumers and business that can provide competition in the marketplace. The government has therefore implemented a proportionate, principles based regime for peer-to-peer lending that balances the need for consumer protection with allowing the sector to grow and evolve.

Financial Services

Bill Esterson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of trends in net lending to small and medium-sized businesses by (a) banks and (b) peer-to-peer platforms since the EU referendum in June 2016.

Stephen Barclay: The Treasury has not made a formal assessment of peer-to-peer lending volumes since the EU referendum. Data on bank lending to businesses can be found in Table A8.1 of the Bank of England’s Bankstats releases at: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/Pages/bankstats/default.aspx

Crowdfunding

Bill Esterson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to support the development of peer-to-peer lending business platforms.

Stephen Barclay: The government believes that Peer-to-Peer (P2P) platforms can deliver innovative forms of finance for both consumers and business that can provide competition in the marketplace. The government has therefore implemented a proportionate, principles based regime for P2P lending that balances the need for consumer protection with allowing the sector to grow and evolve. The British Business Bank has channelled £120m of investment to UK businesses through P2P platforms.

Saudi Aramco

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, and on what date he or officials of his Department have met with representatives of the Government of Saudi Arabia to discuss the scheduled Saudi Aramco IPO in the last 24 months.

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) date and (b) nature was of each meeting he or officials from his Department have had with representatives of the Government of Saudi Arabia in the last 24 months.

Stephen Barclay: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Financial Institutions

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from the financial services sector on whether financial institutions may leave the UK once the UK leaves the EU.

Stephen Barclay: The Government has undertaken an extensive programme of engagement with financial services firms since the referendum last year, in order to listen to and understand concerns from across the sector. This has included ministerial and official meetings with firms from the banking, asset management, insurance, pensions and market infrastructure industries. We have been clear that we are aiming for a deep relationship with our EU partners which will maintain as much of the current cross-border arrangements as possible.

Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of
funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what evidential basis his Department has chosen to exclude from the scope of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 each type of business referred to.

Stephen Barclay: The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLRs) have implemented the EU’s 4th Money Laundering Directive (4MLD). The directive (and therefore the MLRs) is underpinned by the principles of effectiveness and proportionality as well as a continued focus on a risk-based approach. Therefore, the MLRs apply to only those sectors that are reasonably susceptible to the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing and that are seen as ‘gatekeepers’ to the financial system. In considering which sectors are susceptible and therefore higher or lower risk, this could mean looking at, for example, supervisory information on risks within the sector, any steps taken by industry to mitigate these risks, the level of law enforcement and any evidence submitted during government consultations. For more information on why the Government has decided to exclude certain sectors from the scope of the MLRs, please see the Government’s consultation response of March 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/money-laundering-regulations-2017/money-laundering-regulations-2017 As per Regulation 16 of the MLRs, the Government will continue to identify and review the risks in relation to money laundering and terrorist financing with a view to mitigating those risks within the United Kingdom.

Plastic Surgery: VAT

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs plans to conduct a review of VAT charges on cosmetic surgeries; and if he will make a statement.

Mel Stride: There are currently no plans for HMRC to conduct a review of VAT charges on cosmetic surgeries.

Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how much the Commission has spent on direct advertising to increase registration of (a) young people aged 18 to 25 and (b) members of the expatriate community.

Bridget Phillipson: The Electoral Commission undertakes voter registration and public awareness campaigns in the lead up to each major poll, including advertising targeted directly at recognised under-registered groups such as people aged 18 to 25 and UK citizens living overseas. The tables below gives totals for advertising placed explicitly and exclusively to target these two audiences in the two campaigns run in the lead up to polls in May and June 2017. For the May elections, the figures include advertising targeted at 16-17 year olds given the lower voting age for these polls in Scotland. Poll16/18 to 25 year oldsUK citizens living overseasMay 2017 local elections£37,500N/AUK general election£8,100£14,000 People within these categories are also likely to see advertising which reaches them as part of different target groups (such as recent home movers), wider age groups (such as 18-35 year olds) or indeed advertising targeted at the general population. It is not possible to disaggregate these figures and include them here.

Electoral Register: Young People

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what data the Commission holds on how many 18 to 25-year olds live in each parliamentary constituency; and how many and what proportion of those people in each such constituency are registered to vote.

Bridget Phillipson: The Electoral Commission does not hold data on the number of 18 to 25-year olds living or registered to vote in UK Parliamentary constituencies. The Electoral Commission’s most recent report on the accuracy and completeness of the electoral registers in Great Britain, which related to the 1 December 2015 registers, estimated that 71% of 20 to 24-year olds and 51% of 18 to 19-year olds were registered to vote at a current address.

Ballot Papers

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many and what proportion of postal ballot papers were declared null and void in each of the last five general elections.

Bridget Phillipson: The Electoral Commission collected data from Returning Officers for all UK constituencies following the UK Parliamentary general elections in 2001, 2005, 2010 and 2015. The numbers of postal votes rejected by Returning Officers were as follows:YearPostal ballots issuedPostal ballots returnedPostal ballots rejectedPostal ballots rejected (% of those returned)20011,758,0551,402,07331,1892.2%20055,362,5014,110,039146,2473.6%20106,996,0065,818,853221,9883.8%20157,592,7356,516,228214,1553.3% The Commission is collecting data from Returning Officers following the UK Parliamentary general election in June 2017. This data will be published in September 2017.

Department for Work and Pensions

Children: Poverty

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of children were living in poverty in Cardiff Central constituency in each year for which data is available.

Caroline Dinenage: National statistics on the number of children in relative low income are set out in the annual "Households Below Average Income" publication. The number and proportion of children in relative low income is not available at local authority or constituency level in this publication because the survey sample sizes are too small to support the production of robust estimates at this geography. Latest 3-year estimates for Wales of the proportion and number of children in low income are available in Table 4.16ts and Table 4.17ts in the file “4_children_timeseries_risk” from this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/599136/hbai-2015-2016-supporting-ods-files.zip

Children: Poverty

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of children were living in poverty in Torfaen in each year for which data is available.

Caroline Dinenage: National statistics on the number of children in relative low income are set out in the annual "Households Below Average Income" publication. The number and proportion of children in relative low income is not available at local authority or constituency level in this publication because the survey sample sizes are too small to support the production of robust estimates at this geography. Latest 3-year estimates for Wales of the proportion and number of children in low income are available in Table 4.16ts and Table 4.17ts in the file “4_children_timeseries_risk” from this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/599136/hbai-2015-2016-supporting-ods-files.zip

Universal credit: Zero Hours Contracts

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 12 July 2017 to Question 3072, how many people are engaged in zero-hour contracts and in receipt of universal credit.

Damian Hinds: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 04 July 2017 to question 1302.

Universal Credit: Christchurch

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for roll-out of universal credit in Christchurch; and what the deadline for completion of that roll-out is.

Damian Hinds: The Universal Credit full service is due to rollout in Christchurch in November 2017. The intention is that all cases are migrated, and a full service is available nationally, by March 2022. A full rollout schedule has been published and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/628958/universal-credit-transition-rollout-schedule.pdf

Jobseeker's Allowance: Zero Hours Contracts

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on jobseeker's allowance claimant sanctioning for (a) refusing an offer of a zero-hours contract and (b) leaving a zero-hours contract voluntarily.

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on universal credit claimant sanctioning for (a) refusing an offer of a zero-hours contract and (b) leaving a zero-hours contract voluntarily.

Damian Hinds: Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants are not required to apply for zero-hours contract jobs. They cannot be sanctioned for refusing an offer of a zero-hours contract job or for leaving such employment voluntarily.Universal Credit payments adjust automatically depending on the amount a claimant earns, so that a claimant whose hours may change are financially supported and do not need to switch their benefit claim. Therefore, a Universal Credit claimant can be expected to apply for a zero-hours contract job if it considered suitable for their individual circumstances. If there is no good reason that a Universal Credit claimant cannot take a zero-hours contract job they may be sanctioned for not doing so.A Universal Credit claimant may still be sanctioned if they do not have good reason for leaving a zero-hours contract job voluntarily.

Universal Credit: Coventry

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for roll-out of universal credit in Coventry.

Damian Hinds: The Universal Credit full service is due to rollout in Coventry in April 2018. A full rollout schedule has been published and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/628958/universal-credit-transition-rollout-schedule.pdf

Universal Credit

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department's examination of rent arrears and universal credit will be completed.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will include research from Scotland in his Department's examination of universal credit and rent arrears.

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with which housing associations his Department is working to investigate rent arrears in universal credit.

Damian Hinds: DWP are currently undertaking work, in conjunction with Curo Group, a housing association based in the South West, to investigate and understand the true level of rent arrears for their tenants, what is causing them and any impacts Universal Credit may be having. We will consider how nationally representative the analyses are and whether and how it should be expanded.

Pension Credit: Eligibility

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all those people eligible for pension credit are aware of their eligibility.

Guy Opperman: We are committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the Department targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible at pivotal stages such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. We use a wide range of channels to communicate information about Pension Credit to potential customers; including information on gov.uk, in leaflets and by telephone. We believe that one of the best ways to reach those eligible customers who may be reluctant to claim is through trusted messengers working in the community and DWP provides a web-based Pension Credit toolkit at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit containing a range of resources for anyone working with pensioners. It contains guides to Pension Credit, examples of the reasons why eligible customers might not claim, ideas for encouraging take-up, and makes available a range of publicity material.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints about health assessors were investigated by each accredited professional body in each year since 2010-11 in relation to (a) work capability and (b) personal independence payment health assessments.

Penny Mordaunt: Investigations into complaints about health assessors which have been made to professional bodies are the sole responsibility of the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Heath Care Professions Council.

Occupational Pensions

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government plans to publish its White Paper on defined benefit pensions.

Guy Opperman: The Government intends to publish a White Paper on Defined Benefit pensions this coming winter.

State Pension Age Independent Review

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government plans to publish its response to the Cridland review.

Guy Opperman: The review was published on Wednesday 19 July 2017. Please find the below web link to the published report. Governments State pension age review final report

Occupational Pensions

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that workers receive clear information about their pensions pots.

Guy Opperman: Legislation currently requires pension schemes to provide annual information and illustrations to scheme members about their pension pots. We are considering how members should be informed of the costs and charges that effect their pension savings. As part of the review of automatic enrolment we are looking at where more effective engagement could drive greater personal ownership and enable people to understand and maximise their savings. This review is due to report to Parliament at the end of the year.

Occupational Pensions

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce explicit and implicit costs for workers saving into pensions.

Guy Opperman: By 2018, around 10 million people will be saving or saving more into pensions as a result of automatic enrolment. The Government wants to ensure that people who are automatically enrolled are protected from high and unfair charges. This is why in April 2015 we introduced a cap of 0.75% on administration charges for people who are invested in the default fund of schemes used for automatic enrolment. We have also taken steps to cap or ban early exit charges in occupational pension schemes, as these can act as a barrier to individuals wishing to access the pension freedoms. We have also banned member-borne commission charges in workplace pension schemes used for automatic enrolment. We are currently examining the level of the charge cap to see whether it should change and whether some or all the costs associated with investment transactions should also be covered. The Government expects to conclude its examination by the end of this year. In 2016, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) undertook a joint review on industry progress in reducing charge levels in older, so-called legacy pension schemes. The report published in December 2016 found that over 1 million customers have benefitted, or will soon benefit, from a reduction in costs and charges to 1% or lower. The Government and FCA wrote to these pension providers earlier this year challenging them to make further improvements. The Government is pleased with the progress so far and we and the FCA will continue to work with providers to ensure, wherever possible, that all members of these legacy schemes benefit from reduced charges.

Jobcentres

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what circumstances his Department will pay claimants' travel costs to and from Jobcentre appointments; and what guidance his Department gives to its staff on informing claimants who may be eligible that their travel costs might be paid for them.

Damian Hinds: The Department is able to reimburse travel costs for jobseekers via the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) taking into account their particular circumstances. FSF is a budget managed by District Managers to supplement mainstream services and tailor support to the needs of individuals and the local area.All work coaches have access to the Flexible Support Fund Guidance which explains when a payment must or must not be made. The “Overview and General Information” states: “Work Coaches have discretion to award reasonable travel costs to claimants, taking into account their particular circumstances, who are asked to attend the Jobcentre outside of their minimum requirement of attendance”.“Chapter 9: Payment of Travel expenses for work coaches” states:In line with DWP policy financial assistance with travel costs to and from the Jobcentre must be given to eligible individuals:when attending pre-arranged (mandatory or non-mandatory) labour market interviews at the Jobcentre NB: this generally excludes JSA claimants attending their Initial Work Search Interview (IWSI) and normal ‘fortnightly’ Work Search ReviewsTravelling expenses can be refunded:for pre-arranged interviews in connection with benefit claims, or attendance that includes a medical examination or work capability assessment when a call is made in error at the wrong office or time due to official error or misdirection when the customer is redirected to another office, for example, to a screened office where the customer called into an office uninvited in connection with a benefit claim, where the matter could not have been dealt with by another method, for example, by telephone or letter because the customer could not use the telephone, or had difficulty in reading and writing, or needed the help of another person to express themselvesAll payments for travel expenses are subject to the production of appropriate evidence of travel.

Universal Credit: Telephone Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide a telephone helpline for hon. Members and their staff to make enquiries for constituents on universal credit cases.

Damian Hinds: For MPs the dedicated local Complaints Resolution Team or Jobcentre Plus District Manager is the best route to raise issues on behalf of their constituents, this route works well because MPs’ offices can establish local relationships. We have recently confirmed that claimants do not need to give consent for MPs and their caseworkers to raise concerns. It is also important to remember that, in the Universal Credit full service, claimants, service centre staff and Work Coaches have access to a claimant’s online journal, which holds the details of a claim. In effect, any of these colleagues can provide the service that an MPs’ hotline would deliver. We are also currently writing to MPs as the full service goes live in their constituency. These letters explain the implicit consent arrangements for MPs. The letters also give the telephone number and email address of the District Manager in the constituency so that MPs can contact District Managers if there are urgent constituent cases that need attention.

Personal Independence Payment: Parkinson's Disease

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with Parkinson's disease have received personal independence payment at the (a) disability living standard, (b) daily living enhanced, (c) mobility standard and (d) mobility enhanced rate since 2013.

Penny Mordaunt: The table below shows the Mobility and Daily Living award status of the 6,640 Personal Independence Payment awards made between April 2013 and April 2017 where the main disabling condition recorded was Parkinson’s disease. Claimants can be eligible to receive one of or both Daily Living and Mobility components of Personal Independence Payment. PIP Daily living and Mobility component awards made between April 2013 and April 2017 with main disabling condition recorded as Parkinson’s disease.Parkinson’s disease Number of awardsDaily Living Award Statusa) Awarded Standard Daily Living component2,030b) Awarded Enhanced Daily Living component4,530Mobility Award Statusc) Awarded Standard Mobility component1,650d) Awarded Enhanced Mobility component3,290

Social Security Benefits: Glenrothes

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people living in Glenrothes constituency were subject to benefit sanctions in each month between May 2015 and June 2017.

Damian Hinds: The available information on Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and Universal Credit sanction decisions, by parliamentary constituency, is published and can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/. Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

Employment and Support Allowance

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment and support allowance claimants with (a) cystic fibrosis, (b) rheumatoid arthritis, (c) motor neurone disease, (d) multiple sclerosis and (e) Parkinson's disease have been (i) placed in the support group, (ii) placed in the work-related activity group and (iii) found fit for work since 2008.

Penny Mordaunt: The available information is shown in the following table:Individuals placed in the Support Group (SG), Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) or found Fit for Work (FFW), by assessment type and main disabling condition October 2008 to December 2016 Initial assessmentsCystic FibrosisSpinal Muscular AtrophyParkinson's DiseaseMultiple SclerosisRheumatoid ArthritisSG1,0001,4002,0009,0004,200WRAG1001007002,7003,600FFW100-7002,1004,900Repeat assessments SG5003001,2008,8005,200WRAG100-4001,7002,900FFW--1005001,500IBR assessments SG6002001,30016,1006,500WRAG100-3002,6005,000FFW---3001,200 Source: Application data is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by the Healthcare Provider.Notes:The figures are rounded to the nearest 100. ‘–‘denotes figures that are zero or less than 50.The information is provided for Work Capability Assessment decisions made from October 2008, for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and from March 2011, for Incapacity Benefit reassessments (IBR), to December 2016; the latest data available at time of request.The outcome recorded is the final DWP Decision Maker’s decision or the recommendation made by the Healthcare Professional where the Decision Maker’s decision is not yet available.An individual may have made more than one ESA claim and had more than one assessment in the time period shown. These individuals will only be counted once in each of the figures provided.The Department uses the International Classification of Diseases Disease code, 10th Revision (ICD(10)) published by the World Health Organisation, for causes of incapacity. http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2016/en - Motor Neurone Disease is recorded under the Spinal Muscular Atrophy and related syndromes category.The primary medical condition recorded on the claim form does not itself confer entitlement to ESA. So, for example, a decision on entitlement for a customer claiming ESA on the basis of Cystic Fibrosis would be based on their ability to carry out the range of activities assessed by the work capability assessment.

Employment and Support Allowance: Parkinson's Disease

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with Parkinson's disease have been placed in the (a) support group and (b) work-related activity group with a prognosis statement of (i) three months, (ii) six months, (iii) 12 months, (iv) 18 months, (v) two years and (vi) more than two years since the introduction of employment and support allowance in 2008.

Penny Mordaunt: The information requested is shown in the table below. Individuals with a main disabling condition of Parkinson’s disease placed in the Support Group (SG) or Work Related Activity Group (WRAG), by prognosis and assessment type, October 2008 to December 2016  Prognosis Total3 Months6 Months12 Months18 Months2 YearsIn the longer termInitial assessments   SG2,000--2001003001,300WRAG700100100200100100200Repeat assessments   SG1,200--1001002001,000WRAG400--100100100200IB reassessments   SG1,300----2001,000WRAG300----100100 Source: Application data is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by the Healthcare Provider. Notes:The figures are rounded to the nearest 100. ‘–‘denotes figures that are zero or less than 50. The total includes those with a prognosis of terminally ill and also where the prognosis is unknown.The information is provided for Work Capability Assessment decisions made from October 2008, for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and from March 2011, for Incapacity Benefit reassessments (IBR), to December 2016; the latest data available at time of request.The outcome recorded is the final DWP Decision Maker’s decision or the recommendation made by the Healthcare Professional where the Decision Maker’s decision is not yet available.An individual may have made more than one ESA claim and had more than one assessment in the time period shown. These individuals will only be counted once in each of the figures provided.The primary medical condition recorded on the claim form does not itself confer entitlement to ESA. So, for example, a decision on entitlement for a customer claiming ESA on the basis of Parkinson’s Disease would be based on their ability to carry out the range of activities assessed by the work capability assessment.

Home Office

Police: North West

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers at (a) Lancashire, (b) Greater Manchester, (c) Cumbria, (d) Merseyside and (e) Cheshire Constabulary identify as either (i) male, (ii) female, (iii) gay, (iv) lesbian, (v) bisexual, (vi) transgender, (vii) gender fluid, (viii) bi-gender, (ix) non-binary, (x) gender queer, (xi) gender non-conforming, (xii) tri-gender, (xiii) all genders, (xiv) intersex or (xv) another gender identity.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of police officers employed by each police force in England and Wales. These data are published in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins, which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-walesData on the number of male and female officers, by police force area, as at 31 March 2016, can be found in Table_H1 of the accompanying data tables here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2016

Crime

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2017 to Question 3893, whether her Department records the number of times each police force declares a critical incident.

Mr Nick Hurd: The classification of calls is an operational matter for the police.

Police National Computer

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many wanted suspects are currently on the Police National Computer; and how many such wanted suspects have been on the Police National Computer for (a) one to four weeks, (b) one to two months, (c) two to five months, (d) six to 12 months and (e) one year or longer.

Mr Nick Hurd: Figures, published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in March 2017 can be found here: (http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/peel-police-effectiveness-2016.pdf)HMIC figures published in September 2014 can be found here: (http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/core-business.pdf)

Domestic Violence: Homicide

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women murdered in each year since 2010 had made contact with the police about abuse.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office Homicide Index contains information on homicides by gender. Information on the number of women who were victims of homicide is published in the Office for National Statistics publication Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences: Year ending March 2016, available here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/compendium/focusonviolentcrimeandsexualoffences/yearendingmarch2016 The Government has put Domestic Homicide Reviews on a statutory basis and rolled out the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme so that the police may disclose information about previous violent offending by a current or former partner in order to safeguard victims. The Government has announced it will bring forward a Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill that will transform the state’s response to domestic abuse.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether EU nationals who paid £65 for a document to prove permanent residency status will have to pay a fee to apply for settled status.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether those EU nationals who have successfully applied for a permanent residency document will need to apply for the new settled status to remain in the UK.

Brandon Lewis: As set out clearly in the Government’s (Cm 9464) policy paper, free movement rights will come to an end after the UK leaves the EU and therefore cannot be carried forward, as an EU legal right, into the post-exit UK legal regime. Therefore all EU citizens (and their families) in the UK, regardless of when they arrived, will need to obtain an immigration status in UK law. As set out in the policy paper, EU citizens will be given adequate time to obtain this documentation through a ‘grace period’ of up to two years. While EU documentation certifying permanent residence will not be automatically replaced with a grant of settled status, we will seek to make the application process for settled status as streamlined as possible for those who already hold such documents. Fees and charges are being considered as part of the negotiations and in the Government’s engagement with stakeholders, but our aim is to keep fees at a reasonable level.

Crimes of Violence: Acids

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to compile and publish data on the incidence of acid attacks by local authority area; and if she will make a statement.

Sarah Newton: We have announced a cross-Government action plan to tackle the use of acid and other corrosives in violent attacks which includes improving police recording and reporting of offences. We will be working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on what action can be taken to improve the data available.

Crimes of Violence: Acids

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to make possession of acid in public an offence, equivalent to possession of a knife; and if she will make a statement.

Sarah Newton: Someone who has possession of acid or other corrosive substances in public with an intention to do harm, is very likely to be considered to be in possession of an offensive weapon, which is a criminal offence that carries a custodial sentence of up to 4 years in prison. However, as part of our cross-Government action plan, the Home Office will work with police and the Ministry of Justice to consider whether the powers available to the police and courts, are sufficient to deal with these serious offences.

Control of Poisons and Explosives Precursors Regulations 2015: Acids

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on amending the Control of Poisons and Explosives Precursor Regulations 2015 to make (a) sulphuric acid and (b) other corrosive substances regulated substances under those regulations; and if she will make a statement.

Sarah Newton: Sulphuric acid and a number of other corrosive substances are already captured as reportable substances under the Poisons Act 1972. The Government’s action plan to tackle the use of acid and other corrosive substances in violent attacks contains a range of measures to prevent attacks including measures by retailers on the sale of acid and corrosive substances and further action under the Poisons Act 1972 and whether its restrictions could be applied to cover other acids.

Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: Reviews

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish its framework for the review of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 as set out in section 58 of that Act.

Sarah Newton: On 14 July the Home Office published The Psychoactive Substances Act Review Framework which set out the Government’s plans to measure as far as possible any change in activity before and after the implementation of the Psychoactive Substances Act.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Safer Neighbourhood teams were operational in the West Midlands on 1 January 2010.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of officers primarily employed in Neighbourhood Policing/Safer Neighbourhood roles by police force area, as at 31 March each year.The number of full time equivalent police officers in each police force (and specifically in West Midlands Police), primarily employed in Neighbourhood Policing/Safer Neighbourhood roles, can be found in the data tables published alongside the annual ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins.Data as at 31 March 2017 can be found in Table F1 of the accompanying tables of the police workforce statistics, published on 20 July 2017, here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2017Previous data were collected under a different framework, with different definitions. Therefore, data prior to 31 March 2015 are not directly comparable with later years. Although some functions may appear to be similar between the two, there are often differences in definitions, and so any attempts to compare across the two frameworks should be done with caution. Data under the old framework have been published since 2012, and can be found in the supplementary data tables of the relevant police workforce publications via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-walesOfficers with multiple responsibilities or designations are recorded under their primary function. The data do not therefore provide a complete picture of all officers assigned to neighbourhood policing functions. A more reliable measure is the number of officers employed in ‘Local policing’ roles, which includes both neighbourhood and response functions. This measure is available for 2015, 2016 and 2017, but not for previous years where a different framework was used.Any comparisons at force level should be made with care due to collaboration arrangements between forces for particular functions. Additionally, police functions data are often affected by re-structuring within police forces. Therefore comparisons over time for specific functions should be made with care.Decisions on duties and deployments are matters for Chief Constables and the directly accountable Police and Crime Commissioners for each local area.The Government believes in local policing, accountable to local communities. That is why we abolished all central Government targets and put local people in charge by introducing directly elected police and crime commissioners.Police and Crime Commissioners, the elected mayors in London and Manchester and local forces are transforming the way in which they deploy operational resources to meet local circumstances and priorities and adapt to the changing crime threat. The distinction between Neighbourhoods and response teams is no longer clear cut as forces transform the way in which they deploy operational resources and evolve roles to meet local circumstances and priorities, and adapt to the changing crime threat.The freedom to exercise discretion and flexibility has resulted in a range of local policing approaches. At least 33 forces have introduced significant changes, including merging neighbourhoods and response functions; or, for example, in Durham where safeguarding teams have been bought together with Neighbourhoods teams.

Knives: Crime

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the Press Release of 18 July 2017 Home Secretary Takes Further Action to Tackle Knife Crime, when she (a) plans to issue the consultation document and (b) what length of time the consultation will be open.

Sarah Newton: On 18 July the Home Secretary announced the intention to consult on the introduction of new offences to toughen the law on knife crime. The proposed new legislation would restrict the online sale of knives by ensuring anyone who bought a knife online would be required to collect it in person, with retailers responsible for checking the age of all buyers. Further proposals were announced to consult on proposals to ban possession of a dangerous or offensive weapons on private property, and to extend the possession of a knife in a public place and schools to Higher Education and Further Education institutions. Our intention is to launch the consultation in the Autumn and it is likely to be open for up to 12 weeks.

Crimes of Violence: Acids

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many attacks with corrosive substances there were in (a) the UK, (b) London and (c) the London Borough of Newham in each of the last three years; and how many were classified as hate crimes in each of those categories.

Sarah Newton: The Home Office does not specifically collect data from police forces on acid and other corrosive attacks as part of its regular data collection. Acid and other corrosive attacks resulting in injury are included in Office for National Statistics published statistics within the relevant offence, such as assault with injury or assault with intent to cause serious harm. These data cannot be disaggregated to identify offences that involved acid or other corrosive substances.Indicative figures from the National Police Chiefs’ Council suggest that 408 acid or corrosive attacks were carried out in the six months up to April 2017, based on returns from 39 police forces in England and Wales. These figures must be treated with caution, as they are not official statistics and have not been subject to the usual assurance processes but based on returns from 39 police forces.We have announced a cross Government action plan to tackle the use of acid and other corrosives in violent attacks which includes improving police recording and reporting of offences.The Home Office does collect information on the number of hate crimes recorded by the police. Information is not held on how many of these hate crimes involved a corrosive substance.Information on the number of hate crimes recorded by the police is published on an annual basis in the statistical bulletin Hate Crime, England and Wales, 2015/16, available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hate-crime-england-and-wales-2015-to-2016This Government is committed to tackling hate crime. The UK has a strong legislative framework to tackle hate crime. We are working across Government with police, (including National Community Tensions Team), the Crown Prosecution Service and community partners to send out a clear message that hate crime will not be tolerated and we will vigorously pursue and prosecute those who commit these crimes.

Migrant Camps: Children

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the French authorities on the living conditions of young children at refugee camps; and what support her Department has offered to the French authorities to improve those conditions.

Brandon Lewis: Children in France are the responsibility of the French government and robust safeguarding processes are in place for children to enter and be supported by the French care system. We have a strong track record of cooperating with France to manage the situation in Calais and to protect our shared border. We supported the humanitarian operation to clear the Calais migrant camp in October 2016, which involved the transfer of more than 750 minors to the UK and funding to help provide migrants in Calais – including minors – with suitable facilities elsewhere in France. In addition to this, our security and law enforcement teams have worked closely together to tackle organised criminal gangs operating in the region wishing to exploit vulnerable children. We welcome the French Government’s recent decision to deploy more police to the region and to continue to provide alternative accommodation for migrants elsewhere in France. Home Office officials meet with their French colleagues on a regular basis, most recently in London on 30 June and 18-19 July to discuss our continuing bilateral co-operation including agreeing processes for transferring eligible children under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the Dublin Regulation. The Home Office Permanent Secretary and Immigration Minister visited Calais on 30 June on 6 July respectively.

Terrorism: Syria

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the number of people resident in the UK who have visited and returned from Syria over the last 10 years; and how many of those people are under surveillance.

Mr Ben  Wallace: Approximately 850 UK linked individuals of national security concern have travelled to engage with the Syrian conflict. We estimate that just under half have returned and approximately 15% are now dead. This number includes all those of national security concern, not just those affiliated with Daesh. Everyone who returns from taking part in the conflict in Syria or Iraq must expect to be investigated by the police to determine if they have committed criminal offences, and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national security.

Counter-terrorism: Newham

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (a) how much of the Prevent programme has been spent and (b) on which initiatives in the London Borough of Newham in each of the last five years; and what plans she has to sponsor Prevent programmes in the borough in (i) 2017-18, (ii) 2018-19 and (iii) 2019-20.

Mr Ben  Wallace: Prevent funding is prioritised based on threat and risk. We have identified 48 priority areas across the country where we assess the risk of radicalisation to be highest. Each priority area receives funding for a dedicated Prevent co-ordinator and for civil society organisations to deliver campaigns and activity that counter terrorist narratives and build resilience in communities against radicalisation. We do not provide detailed information about the funding allocation of local Prevent projects by area.The Government is working with a number of London boroughs, including Newham to increase resources to help the response to the risks of radicalisation.

Prisoners' Release: Terrorism

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people convicted of terrorist offences since 2001 have been released from prison and are (a) resident in an approved premise and (b) living in the community; and what proportion of each group is under regular police watch.

Mr Ben  Wallace: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of terrorism and domestic extremist prisoners released from prison custody. These data are published in the ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation” statistical bulletins, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/operation-of-police-powers-under-the-terrorism-act-2000-financial-year-ending-march-2017 Table P05 in the data tables accompanying this release shows the number of prisoners released from prison custody between January 2011 and December 2016. The Home Office does not hold this information for years prior to 2011. The Home Office does not hold information on the number of prisoners released that are (a) resident in an approved premise or (b) living in the community or the proportion that are under regular police watch.

Police: Vacancies

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the current vacancy rate for detectives in each police force.

Mr Nick Hurd: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to UIN 2946 on the 10th July 2017.

Radicalism

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Written Statement of 12 July 2017, HCWS39, how many UK-based extremist organisations were identified by her Department's review as having received a significant proportion of their income from overseas; and if she will list those organisations.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Written Statement of 12 July 2017, HCWS39, if she will list (a) the countries identified by her Department's review as significant sources of overseas funding for UK-based extremist organisations and (b) the total financial value of donations from such countries in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Written Statement of 12 July 2017, HCWS39, whether her use of the term overseas funding in that statement refers to donations from (a) people based overseas, (b) companies or organisations based overseas and (c) donations from foreign Governments.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Written Statement of 12 July 2017, HCWS39, how many institutions were identified by her Department's review as having provided socially conservative literature and preachers to UK-based Islamic institutions; how many people were identified by the review as having studied at such institutions with financial support from overseas; and what proportion of such people subsequently became of extremist concern.

Sarah Newton: The Government laid a Written Ministerial Statement in Parliament on Wednesday 12 July, which conveyed the main findings of the review into the funding for Islamist extremist activity in the UK. The review has improved the Government’s understanding of the nature, scale and sources of funding for Islamist extremism in the UK. It confirmed the most significant source of funding for Islamist extremism in the UK is small, private donations from UK-based individuals. The statement also confirms that the Charity Commission will be introducing a requirement on charities to declare overseas sources of funding to increase transparency in this area.The review’s report is classified because of the volume of personal information it contains and for national security reasons. The Written Ministerial Statement is a comprehensive and representative reflection of the review’s findings. The Government has no plans to comment further on the review’s findings and it will not provide a running commentary on the groups, individuals or sources it considers to be of extremism concern. The Government’s priority is making the best use of the tools available tools to disrupt extremist activity in the UK.The Government has invited the appropriate Privy Councillors from the opposition parties into the Home Office to read the classified report on Privy Council terms.

Gatwick Airport

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average queuing time at Gatwick Airport is.

Brandon Lewis: Table 1 - average sampled passenger wait time for Gatwick (North and South) from 1 July 2016 until 30 June 2017. DateEEANon EEATotal00:05:4000:12:07 The information provided relates to passenger queuing times – defined as when a passenger arrives at the UK Border control desk - and as such excludes transaction times for clearance. Performance is assessed over a 12 month period. The performance against service levels is assessed over a month period. If 95% or above of passenger wait times sampled are recorded as within the 25 minute (EEA) and 45 minute (non EEA) service standard, the service level is assessed as met, if less than 95%, then this is considered a breach of the service level. This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.

Heathrow Airport

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average queuing time at London Heathrow Airport is.

Brandon Lewis: Table 1 - the average sampled passenger wait time for Heathrow (Terminal 2, 3, 4 and 5) from 1 July 2016 until 30 June 2017. DateEEANon EEATotal00:03:4600:17:38 Notes No data for Heathrow Terminal 1 as terminal closed in 2015. The information provided relates to passenger queuing times – defined as when a passenger arrives at the UK Border control desk - and as such excludes transaction times for clearance. Performance is assessed over a 12 month period. The performance against service levels is assessed over a month period. If 95% or above of passenger wait times sampled are recorded as within the 25 minute (EEA) and 45 minute (non EEA) service standard, the service level is assessed as met, if less than 95%, then this is considered a breach of the service level. This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2017 to Question 4802, how (a) employers, (b) landlords, (c) banks and building societies, (d) the DVLA and (e) benefit agencies will be able to distinguish between EU citizens who arrived in the UK before the specified date and those who arrive after the specified date.

Brandon Lewis: The Government has set out its intention in its published document “Safeguarding the position of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU” to issue residence documentation to EU nationals who will be granted indefinite leave to remain on the basis of their residence in the UK. The Government will set out its plans in due course for redesigning the immigration system to introduce controls on future migration to the UK by EU citizens, including any plans for adjusting statutory checks by employers, landlords and other service providers.

Fruit: Migrant Workers

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether EU nationals who work in the UK soft fruit sector will be able to continue to work in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Brandon Lewis: The Government’s policy paper (Cm 9464), which was laid before Parliament on 26 June, sets out our proposals for enabling European Union citizens residing in the UK before a specified cut off date (to be confirmed, but between 29 March 2017 and exit) to continue to live and work here. After five years’ continuous residence, they will be able to apply for UK settled status. There are no plans to differentiate according to work sector.The details of the new scheme will be subject to negotiations. We will publish further detail on the specifics of the new application process, including detailed eligibility criteria and requirements, in due course.

Refugees: Children

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government's commitment to transfer 480 unaccompanied child refugees to the UK will be met.

Brandon Lewis: In 2016, we transferred over 900 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to the UK from Europe. Over 200 of these children met the criteria for section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.On 10 March 2017 the Government published the basis on which future transfers under section 67 will take place, up to the specified number of 480. We are fully committed to delivering section 67 and are working very closely with France, Greece and Italy, as well as partners such as the UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGOs, to agree processes for identifying and transferring further children. It is important to remember that these processes must be implemented in line with each individual Member State’s national laws. All transfers of children to the UK must be carried out safely and with the best interests of children at the centre of all decisions regarding transfer.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with her counterparts at the Department for Health and the Ministry of Justice on the potential merits of establishing a drugs rehabilitation programme to divert drug users from the criminal justice system and towards health services and of deferring or withdrawing fines and custodial sentence upon the successful completion of a drug rehabilitation programme.

Sarah Newton: The Home Office worked with a range of government departments at official and ministerial level, including the Department of Health and Ministry of Justice, to develop the Government’s 2017 Drug Strategy, which was published on 14 July. The strategy sets out the action we are taking to develop health interventions for drug using offenders in the criminal justice system. This includes making effective use of community sentences with treatment requirements. We will establish a new Drug Strategy Board, chaired by the Home Secretary and including representation from all the key departments, including the Department of Health and Ministry of Justice, to oversee delivery of the actions in the strategy.

Home Office: Welsh Language

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which online services provided by her Department are available in the Welsh language on request only.

Sarah Newton: The drugs licensing online system is available on request. The bidding process for applications for the Modern Slavery Innovation Fund in October last year included an offer in the bidding document to provide documents in Welsh on request. The Government is committed to ensuring that the needs of Welsh language speakers are recognised and met, in accordance with the requirements of departmental Welsh Language Schemes.

Home Office: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many special advisers she employs in her Department (a) in total, (b) who are women and (c) who are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Amber Rudd: Currently the Home Office has four special advisors. One of which is female and one is from an ethnic minority background.

Rape

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were charged with the offence of rape in each of the last five years in England and Wales.

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many allegations of rape were reported to the police in each of the last five years in England and Wales.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office publishes information on the number of rapes recorded by the police by the police forces in England and Wales. These figures are published in Table A4 in the Office for National Statistics publication Crime in England and Wales: Year ending March 2017, available here:https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesappendixtablesThe Home Office does not hold information on the number of people charged with offences of rape. Information on the number of people charged with rape offences is the responsibility of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS publish data on rape in their annual Violence against Women and Girls crime report. The latest publication, for 2015-2016, is available here: http://www.cps.gov.uk/data/violence_against_women/vawg_2015_16_report.html

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what post-legislative scrutiny her Department has carried out on the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012; and if she will make a statement.

Sarah Newton: The Home Office is currently drafting a Post legislative Scrutiny Memorandum for the Home Affairs Select Committee on the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which will be published as soon as possible after the Home Affairs Select Committee is reconstituted.

Muslim Brotherhood: Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conclusions her Department's internal review into the funding of UK Islamist extremist groups has reached on the financing of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK, including from the State of Qatar; and if she will make a statement.

Sarah Newton: The Government laid a Written Ministerial Statement in Parliament on Wednesday 12 July 2017, which conveyed the main findings of the review into the funding for Islamist extremist activity in the UK. The review has improved the Government’s understanding of the nature, scale and sources of funding for Islamist extremism in the UK. The Written Ministerial Statement confirms the most significant source of funding for Islamist extremism in the UK is small, private donations from UK-based individuals.The review’s report is classified because of the volume of personal information it contains and for national security reasons. The Written Ministerial Statement is a comprehensive and representative reflection of the review’s findings. The Government has no plans to comment further on the review’s findings and it will not provide a running commentary on the groups, individuals or sources it considers to be of extremism concern. The Government’s priority is making the best use of the tools available tools to disrupt extremist activity in the UK.The Government concluded a comprehensive review of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2015. The review concluded the movement is a secretive organisation with an ambiguous relationship with violent extremism. The Government remains committed to keeping under review the views promoted and activities undertaken by the Muslim Brotherhood’s associates in the UK, in accordance with the five commitments included in the former Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament.

Radicalism

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what definition her Department used for Islamist extremism for the purposes of its report on the funding of Islamist extremism in the UK.

Sarah Newton: The Government’s definition of extremism is set out in the 2015 Counter-Extremism Strategy. The strategy defines extremism as: ‘the vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also regard calls for the death of members of our armed forces as extremist.’ The strategy’s definition was used for the review of funding for Islamist extremism in the UK.

Radicalism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the list of UK-based Islamist extremist groups identified in the Department's internal review into the funding of Islamist extremist activity in the UK.

Sarah Newton: The Government laid a Written Ministerial Statement in Parliament on Wednesday 12 July 2017, which conveyed the main findings of the review into the funding for Islamist extremist activity in the UK. The review has improved the Government’s understanding of the nature, scale and sources of funding for Islamist extremism in the UK.The review’s report is classified because of the volume of personal information it contains and for national security reasons. The Written Ministerial Statement is a comprehensive and representative reflection of the review’s findings. The Government has no plans to comment further on the review’s findings and it will not provide a running commentary on the groups, individuals or sources it considers to be of extremism concern. The Government’s priority is making the best use of the tools available to disrupt extremist activity in the UK.

Police

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the number of detectives in each police force.

Mr Nick Hurd: Decisions on the size, composition, and deployment of the police workforce are operational matters for the Chief Constable of each area, working with their directly accountable Police and Crime Commissioner.We have a constructive and ongoing dialogue with policing about ensuring that the right powers, capabilities and resources are in place to keep the public safe.

Crimes of Violence: Acids

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department is making on the review of the legal and criminal justice response to acid attacks.

Sarah Newton: The Government has announced its action plan to tackle the use of acid and other corrosive substances in violent attacks. The action plan includes a review of the law enforcement, criminal justice response, access to harmful products and the support offered to victims. Work is underway and we will be updating MPs in September on the progress made.

Fraud

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 24 April 2017 to Question 71197, on fraud, for what reasons the Government does not assess police spending on each area of demand.

Mr Nick Hurd: Since 2010, we have sought to minimise the level of bureaucracy imposed on police forces, including through the collection of national data from forces. We have also introduced democratically PCCs to ensure resources are focused on local priorities. The Government is engaging with the police to better understand changes in demand.

Police: Finance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 24 April 2017 to Question 71221, whether the police budget has decreased in real terms since 2010.

Mr Nick Hurd: The police budget decreased in real terms between 2010 and 2015. It was necessary for the Government to address the deficit and it was right that the police contributed to that.Forces have largely risen to the challenge and demonstrated that it is possible to make efficiencies whilst delivering a high quality service to the public. The Government is sensitive to the needs of policing and protected overall police spending in real terms in Spending Review 2015.

Police: Finance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 21 April 2017 to Question 70888, what assessment she has made of the effect of changes to funding to police and crime commissioners on police force budgets in regions where revenue from the council tax precept is relatively low in comparison to other regions in England and Wales.

Mr Nick Hurd: The 2015 Spending Review looked at police funding, including council tax precept. Since Spending Review 2015, we have provided additional flexibility for the 10 Police & Crime Commissioners in England with the lowest precept bills each year (the lower quartile). These PCCS are able to raise their precept by £5 per Band D household, compared to the usual 2%, without triggering a local referendum.

Police: Finance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 24 April 2017 to Question 71262, on police: finance, what the timescale is for completing the process for reforming the distribution of core grant funding to police force areas.

Mr Nick Hurd: No decisions have been taken on the police funding formula and no new formula will be introduced without a full public consultation.

Home Office: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the potential number of Acts or parts of Acts that will be subject to repeal as a result of the provisions in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

Sarah Newton: Government departments have been analysing the UK statute book and directly applicable EU law in their areas of responsibility to enable an assessment of the scale of the changes needed. This is likely to include the repeal, but also the amendment, of provisions in Acts but we are not in a position to give a sense of scale at this time. In the Government White Paper on the Repeal Bill [‘Legislating for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union’], published on 30 March 2017, we estimated around 800 - 1,000 EU-exit related Statutory Instruments will be required.

Violence against Women and Girls Ministerial Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times and on which dates the Inter-Ministerial Group on Violence Against Women and Girls has met since 13 October 2016.

Sarah Newton: The Violence Against Women and Girls Inter Ministerial Group has met once since they met on 13 October 2016. This meeting took place on 2 March 2017, where Ministers heard directly from VAWG charity representatives about how best to prioritise Government efforts to tackle VAWG.

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what compensation payments her Department has made at the request of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in each of the last three years.

Sarah Newton: The Home Office does not hold the data in the format requested. This data is not held centrally and to obtain it would therefore exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.

Drugs: Misuse

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it a criminal offence for a landlord to fail to stop or remove a tenant found to be using illegal drugs in their property and then to take no action following the police notifying them that such is the case.

Sarah Newton: The Government has no plans to introduce such powers at the current time.It is an offence for an occupier or person managing any premises to knowingly permit the production or attempted production and supply of a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. It is also an offence to prepare opium for smoking and to smoke cannabis, cannabis resin or prepared opium. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced closure powers which allow the police and local councils to quickly close down premises which are causing nuisance or disorder. The 2014 Act also introduced the absolute ground for possession which makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants whose anti-social behaviour or criminality has been proven by another court.

Northern Ireland Office

Devolution: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2017 to Question 2967, which devolved authority has responsibility for salaries and allowances in the absence of a Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Salaries and allowances for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are the responsibility of the Assembly and, under the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, are determined by the Independent Financial Review Panel. Any change to this arrangement at Westminster would require primary legislation. The Government’s overriding priority remains supporting the restoration of devolved government, as Northern Ireland’s future is best served by local decision-making based on partnership and agreement.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Occupational Pensions: British Telecom

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to issue guidance to clarify the extent to which the Crown guarantee covers (a) existing pension payments of BT employees and (b) future pension payments of BT employees.

Matt Hancock: The Crown guarantee, given when BT was privatised, covers liabilities of BT plc to the BT Pension Scheme in the unlikely event of BT entering insolvent winding up. We are committed to maintaining the Crown guarantee’s existing pension protection for the future accruals of pension benefits of BT Pension Scheme including those members who transfer to the new Openreach company as a result of BT's voluntary agreement with Ofcom. The Digital Economy Act 2017 includes a provision to ensure this protection will extend to the pensions of members transferring to the new Openreach company. We are now in the process of drafting a Statutory Instrument to implement the necessary changes to legislation. The Statutory Instrument will be laid before this House. The current protection afforded to members who continue to be employed by BT plc; pensioners; their eligible dependents; and members of the Pension Scheme with deferred rights, will not be affected by the new legislation.

Convention On the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Section 3.3 of the Culture White Paper, published in March 2016, if she will provide a timetable on the decision to ratify the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.

John Glen: Government remains committed to reviewing the case for UK ratification of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. We are considering the plans and timescales for a review and will make an announcement in due course.

Sports: Wales

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what national funding sources are available to sporting bodies in Wales for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Tracey Crouch: Sport is a devolved matter, and as such the funding and support of home nation teams for the Commonwealth Games is the responsibility of the relevant Home Nation Sports Councils. For Wales this is Sport Wales, which receives its public funding from the Welsh government. UK Sport, which receives funding from the UK government and the National Lottery and prepares athletes for Olympic and Paralympic Games, estimates that there are currently 66 athletes funded on their current World Class Programme who indicate Wales as their home nation.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Pay

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) male and (b) female members of staff in her Department are paid more than £150,000.

Matt Hancock: The number of male and female staff on DCMS’ payroll paid more than £150,000 is as follows:  MaleFemalePaid more than £150,00001

Department of Health

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on incontinence products by (a) Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, (b) University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay, (c) Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, (d) Bolton NHS, (e) East Lancashire Hospitals, (f) Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals, (g) Warrington and Halton Hospitals and (h) St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals in each quarter from 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2017.

Mr Philip Dunne: This information is not collected centrally.

NHS Shared Business Services: Contracts

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many contracts are currently held by NHS Shared Business Services in NHS Trusts in (a) England and (b) the North West region of England.

Mr Philip Dunne: The number of contracts currently held by NHS Shared Business Services in National Health Service trusts in England is 110, and in the North West region of England is 37.

NHS: Pay

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what date he plans to write to the NHS Pay Review Body to set the remit of the 2018-19 review; and what restrictions exist on when he can write that letter.

Mr Philip Dunne: I will write to the National Health Service Pay Review Body setting out the Department’s remit in due course.

Health Professions: Vacancies

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of vacancies in (a) nursing and (b) midwifery in each English NHS trust; and if he will instruct NHS Digital to publish monthly vacancy data for each such trust.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information is not available in the format requested. Health Education England (HEE) provides estimates of staff shortages and the plan for tackling these issues as part of their Workforce Plan for England publication. The latest figures are available at the following link.https://hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Workforce%20Plan%20for%20England%202016-17.pdf HEE plans to publish the Workforce Plan for England 2017/18 in due course. NHS Digital is engaged in a Vacancy Information Subgroup of the Workforce Information Review Group which is tasked with scoping the requirements of the National Health Service for healthcare recruitment information. This includes developing agreed definitions for key concepts, such as vacancies; understanding current data sources, gaps and issues; and producing proposals to overhaul the current data standards and guidance to improve this situation. The subgroup covers a wide range of stakeholders, including (but not limited to) the Department, NHS England, Heath Education England, NHS Employers and a range of NHS trusts.

Piperacillin-tazobactam: Side Effects

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the side effects of the drug Tazocin; and what guidance NHS trusts in England are following on the administration of that drug.

Steve Brine: Tazocin is a specific brand of the antibiotic piperacillin-tazobactam, of which several generic formulations are also authorised for use. It is indicated for the treatment of a range of severe and complicated infections. As with all medicines, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has fully evaluated the safety, quality and efficacy of Tazocin, and generic versions of piperacillin-tazobactam, and the balance of benefits and risks is favourable. The possible side effects are listed in full in the product information for healthcare professionals and patients. Information is also given on how the medicine should be administered. Piperacillin-tazobactam is administered as an infusion, however, Tazocin and generic formulations of piperacillin-tazobactam have different compatibilities with other medicines given at the same time. The MHRA and manufacturers have issued guidance on which products generic piperacillin-tazobactam must not be mixed or co-administered with.

Dementia: Medical Treatments

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure patients with dementia continue to receive timely access to new treatments after Britain leaves the EU.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Implementation Plan for the 2020 Challenge on Dementia 2020 highlights our continuing global leadership role on dementia, stressing the importance of working closely with our international partners, including the World Health Organization, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the World Dementia Council and countries within the G7, European Union and beyond. At a summit in December 2013, the then G8 countries agreed a new international approach to dementia research to realise the ambition to identify a cure or disease modifying therapy by 2025 and to increase collectively and significantly their funding for dementia research. The Government has doubled research spending on dementia, with a commitment to maintain this level of spending at £60 million a year to 2020, with an ambition for overall spending on research from all sectors to double by 2025. Much of this investment is in research to better understand the nature of dementia, to inform development of future treatments and ways to prevent the onset of the condition. The Government remains committed to tackling dementia domestically and internationally. We will ensure that the 2020 Challenge on Dementia is delivered in full so that, by 2020, England is the best place in the world for dementia care and support, as well as for undertaking research into dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Dental Health: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of children aged five have dental disease in each local authority area of England.

Steve Brine: The latest data on the prevalence and severity of dental decay in five year olds was reported in 2015 in The Oral Health Survey of Five Year-Old Children 2014/15. The ‘Lower Tier, Upper Tier Local Authority (LA), PHE Centre and regional results tables 2015’ can be accessed from the survey here:http://www.nwph.net/dentalhealth/survey-results%205(14_15).aspx.Within the table, the tabs ‘Upper Tier LAs’ and ‘Lower Tier LAs’ give information on the number of five-year-olds per LA (column D), the number of five-year-olds in that area examined for the survey (column E) and the percentage of those examined with and without tooth decay (columns L and K respectively). An estimate of the number of five-year-old children in the LA with dental decay can be calculated from this information.

Dementia: Research

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure greater parity between research in dementia care and bio-medical research on dementia.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR does not usually ring-fence funds for particular topics. Awards are made in open competition on the basis of importance of topics to patients and heath and care services, value for money, and scientific quality judged through peer review. The amount of NIHR funding in topic areas depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. This includes research on dementia care, and applied biomedical research in dementia. In 2014/15 (the most recent year for which a breakdown is available) total Department funding for dementia related research was £31.5 million. Of this, an estimated £12.3 million was for research on dementia services and care.

Health Services: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department takes to measure the amount of NHS funds spent on health services for children each year; and what estimate he has made of the amount of NHS spending on health services for children in each of the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England has made no assessment on the amount of National Health Service funds spent on health services for children. Overall expenditure by clinical commissioning groups and services commissioned by NHS England is not split between children and adults.

E. Coli: Dorset

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library copies of the reports made by Public Health England into the outbreaks of E. coli variant 055 in Dorset in 2014-15; and what steps he is taking to prevent any future such outbreak.

Steve Brine: Despite rigorous and extensive investigation of this unusual strain of Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O55, a single source was not identified. The evidence suggests that the likely source was a local zoonotic (from animals) infection. No further cases of this unusual strain of VTEC with links to Dorset have been seen since late 2015. Public Health England (PHE) has well established systems to identify new cases of this infection and well-rehearsed operational procedures to respond should any future cases emerge. These systems were last tested in a cross-Government exercise in November 2016. There is extensive guidance and advice on preventing the transmission of VTEC on the PHE website, NHS Choices and the Food Standards Agency website.

NHS: Buildings

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2017 to Question 4557, when he plans to reach an agreement with NHS England on the revisions to NHS England Premises Costs Directions.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2017 to Question 4557, how many projects, for which investment has been approved in principle under the NHS Estates Technology and Transformation Fund require a revision of the Premises Costs Directions to be agreed by his Department before they can receive final approval.

Mr Philip Dunne: Changes to premises costs directions are currently being negotiated between the Department, NHS England and the General Practitioners’ Committee of the British Medical Association. It is anticipated that the new directions will be agreed shortly. No fully approved schemes are being held up or are at risk of delivery by the delay in finalising the premises cost direction changes. However, there are a large number of improvements to existing premises and new builds which are dependent on the revisions we have been negotiating (up to 627 schemes).

Department of Health: Private Finance Initiative

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2017 to Question 4502 on Department for Health Private Finance Initiative, if he will publish the full value-for-money framework applied by his Department to PF2 projects.

Mr Philip Dunne: In November 2011 the Coalition Government announced a complete reform of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) model after a review. This recognised the need to address the widespread concerns with PFI – too slow and expensive; too inflexible and a lack of transparency. A new Public Private Partnership model to replace the PFI was announced in 2012, Private Finance 2 (PF2). Key features of the new PF2 model include the Government co-investing in projects as a minority shareholder to strengthen the partnership working and share in any returns and exclusion of 'soft' facilities management services such as cleaning and catering to improve flexibility. As part of PFI review the Coalition Government undertook to revise the value for money guidance. Further guidance ‘A new approach to public private partnerships’ was published in December 2012 which is attached. At Chapter 7 ‘Efficiency and value for Money’, Paragraphs 7.28 – 7.31 set out the rationale for changing the value for money test and the immediate steps to be taken. Fully revised Value for Money guidance on Public Private Partnerships is to be included as an annex in a revision to HM Treasury’s Green Book which is currently being prepared for publication.



PQ5727 attached doc.
(PDF Document, 960.99 KB)

Breast Cancer: Drugs

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent progress has been made on improving the consistency of implementation of bisphosphonates for the prevention of secondary breast cancer.

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with clinicians and patient groups on improving the implementations of bisphosphonates for the prevention of secondary breast cancer.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently updating its guidelines on the diagnosis and management of early and locally advanced breast cancer. The use of adjuvant bisphosphonates has been identified as one of the key areas that will be covered in the update which is scheduled for publication in July 2018. In the meantime, NICE will shortly be publishing an evidence summary on the use of adjuvant bisphosphonates in early breast cancer. NHS England expects clinical commissioning groups to take account of NICE guidelines and local population needs when making commissioning decisions.

Medical Records

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS is permitted to accept medical records and rely on medical tests undertaken by health services in other countries.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The National Health Service can consider medical records or diagnostic test results received from health organisations abroad. However, clinicians should use their professional and clinical judgement when treating patients who have received treatment overseas. This includes reviewing any related records to be used in the clinical decision making process and taking any action deemed appropriate, including determining whether further testing is required.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust: Vacancies

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust has been unable to fill 1,042 vacancies as at the end of June 2017; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: Since May 2010, there are 452 full time equivalent (FTE) more professionally qualified clinical staff (up by 12.8%), including 72 FTE (up by 22.5%) more consultants, and 165 FTE (up by 9.3%) more nurses and health visitors employed at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust. Responsibility for staffing levels rests with individual National Health Service trusts and their boards who are best placed to decide how many staff they need to provide a given service, taking into account skill mix, efficiency and the needs of their local population. By increasing the number of medical school places in England by 1,500 over the next three years we are ensuring the right number of doctors are trained so that the National Health Service can continue to deliver safe, compassionate and effective care well into the future.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Medical Treatments

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which clinical commissioning groups fund (a) acupuncture, (b) reflexology, (c) psychological interventions, (d) psychodynamic interpersonal therapy, (e) hypnotherapy and (f) cognitive behaviour therapy for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Steve Brine: The commissioning of services for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a local matter, and information about the configuration of individual services is not collected.‘Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: Diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome in primary care’, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in 2008, sets out best practice on the diagnosis treatment and support of patients with IBS. Local National Health Service commissioners should consider NICE clinical guidelines when planning and developing services for local populations. The NICE guideline recommends management approaches to IBS that include dietary and lifestyle advice, pharmacological therapy and referral for psychological interventions. Psychological interventions, as defined in the guideline, include cognitive behavioural therapy, hypnotherapy and psychological therapy. The guideline does not recommend reflexology or acupuncture. NICE routinely reviews its guidance to ensure it reflects the latest available evidence, and advised in February this year that no update to the IBS guideline was required at this time. The guideline can be found at that the following link:www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg61/resources/irritable-bowel-syndrome-in-adults-diagnosis-and-management-pdf-975562917829

Health Services: Standards

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether there is a mechanism to measure delays in the NHS treatment encountered by British citizens when moving back to the UK from abroad.

Mr Philip Dunne: No information is held centrally to measure waiting times for National Health Service treatment for British citizens who have moved back to the United Kingdom from abroad. When a patient is referred for treatment, they should be treated according to clinical priority and then in the chronological order of when they were added to the list.

Blood: Contamination

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) people and (b) organisations who were invited to the roundtable meeting on the contaminated blood inquiry on 20 July 2017.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The following organisations were invited to the meeting on 20 July 2017: - The Haemophilia Society;- Haemophilia Wales;- Haemophilia Scotland;- The Irish Haemophilia Society;- The Hepatitis C Trust;- The Tainted Blood Campaign;- The Contaminated Blood Campaign; and- The Birchgrove Group.

Sugar

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2017 to Question 2048, what steps Public Health England has taken to encourage (a) all businesses and (b) businesses in the Food and Drink Federation to achieve the reductions in sugar set out in Childhood obesity: a plan for action.

Steve Brine: The Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan published in August 2016 challenged industry to reduce overall sugar across the products contributing most to children’s sugar intakes by at least 20% by 2020, with a 5% reduction to be achieved in the first year by August 2017. Public Health England (PHE) published our first technical report ‘Sugar reduction: Achieving the 20%’ on 30 March 2017. The report set out guidelines for industry to deliver the 20% sugar reduction in nine categories of food by 2020. The report is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/604336/Sugar_reduction_achieving_the_20_.pdf PHE is continuing its programme of engagement with businesses across all sectors of industry to achieve these guidelines, including members of the Food and Drink Federation and retailers with a significant focus on restaurants, takeaways and cafés. The first detailed progress report will be published in March 2018. PHE is now developing the metrics that will be used to monitor progress towards the 5% reduction that is to be achieved by August 2017.

Social Work: Training

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications have been made for social work bursaries for students commencing courses in September 2017; and how many and what proportion of those applications have been successful.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested is not yet available. The deadline for postgraduate social work students starting courses in September 2017 applying for a bursary is 1 November 2017. A separate deadline of 14 February 2018 applies for postgraduate students starting their course in January 2018. Undergraduate social work students starting in the 2017 academic year will not be eligible for a bursary until their second year of study.

Dental Health: Children

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 24 April 2017 to Question 70314, what progress his Department has made on determining the scope of and implementing the early intervention scheme for oral health.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 24 April 2017 to Question 70854, if he will make an assessment of the merits of re-investing money from unused units of dental activity into a national early intervention programme for tackling child tooth decay.

Steve Brine: At the request of Ministers, NHS England is setting up a scheme in 13 high needs areas to improve the oral health of young children. The scheme will be based in dental practices and will have a particular focus on those children who do not currently visit the dentist. The scheme is expected to be launched in the next few months and will be funded from existing dental resources, including unused units of dental activity. Evaluation has been designed in from the start and the learning, once available, will inform the approach going forward. NHS England advises that the West Midlands scheme is still under consideration following local discussions this month. The scheme would incentivise dentists to see more children under the age of two. Decisions on the future of the scheme are expected to be taken next month.

Health Services: Liverpool

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what target (a) NHS Improvement and (b) Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group have set for intended Care Quality Commission rating of services within the Liverpool core bundle (i) one year and (ii) two years after that bundle has been allocated.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken by (a) NHS Improvement and (b) Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group to ensure that services specified within the Liverpool core bundle can be delivered safely within the planned recurrent funding envelope.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which organisations (a) NHS Improvement and (b) Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group have contacted for a next stage conversation about the Liverpool core bundle; and why each of those providers was approached.

Steve Brine: NHS Improvement, working alongside the Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (LCCG), has recently begun a new process to select a preferred provider for Liverpool Community Services National Health Service Trust. The recurrent funding envelope for delivery of these services is currently being determined by LCCG. The criteria that will be used to assess the proposals cover the four key domains of financial sustainability, deliverability, clinical quality (which includes safety) and strategic context. NHS Improvement have informed us that they, working with the LCCG, have set a target Care Quality Commission rating of Good for services within the first year, and Good or Outstanding for the second year. NHS Improvement and the LCCG have invited proposals from four providers within the Liverpool “Acting As One” arrangements. These providers have been approached as they are considered to have a reasonable prospect of making a viable business case. The organisations are: Aintree NHS Foundation Trust, Alder Hey NHS Foundation Trust, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen NHS Trust.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if NHS England will take steps to produce a strategy to reduce the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic, relapsing, and often lifelong disorder of gastrointestinal function. The exact cause of IBS is not known, and whilst symptoms may be managed, there is no known cure. Unfortunately, this means there are no actions that could be taken through a strategy to reduce incidence of the condition.IBS symptoms can vary in type and severity between patients, as can the triggers for exacerbation of symptoms; however, these symptoms may be controlled with certain treatment approaches. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) best practice guideline on IBS recommends management approaches that include dietary and lifestyle advice, pharmacological therapy and referral for psychological interventions. The NICE guideline can be found at the following link:www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg61/resources/irritable-bowel-syndrome-in-adults-diagnosis-and-management-pdf-975562917829

Parkinson's Disease: Mental Health Services

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to ensure that the Government's commitment to prioritise mental health across the NHS benefits people with Parkinson's disease.

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the prevalence of (a) anxiety and (b) depression in people with Parkinson's.

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will invest in mental health services for people affected by Parkinson's.

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 26 April 2017 to Question 71557, when his Department plans to integrate mental health support into neurological services.

Jackie Doyle-Price: As set out in Implementing the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health the expansion of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services will focus on people with long term conditions, including neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, and/or medically unexplained symptoms. New psychological therapy provision will see physical and mental health care provision co-located. Therapy will be integrated into existing medical pathways and services – either primary care, or secondary care services including neurology. The report can be viewed here:www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/taskforce/imp/Although the majority of people with Parkinson’s can be cared for through routine access to primary and secondary care, NHS England commissions the specialised elements of Parkinson’s care that patients may receive from 24 specialised neurological treatment centres across England. Within these centres neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, clinical nurse specialists, psychologists, and that they can receive specialised treatment and support, according to their needs. Data from the National Health Service general practitioner survey has consistently indicated that people with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s, have the highest levels of anxiety and depression. This is an important issue and we are working with the Neurological Alliance who published a report on mental health and neurological conditions, Parity of esteem for people affected by neurological conditions: meeting the emotional, cognitive & mental health needs of neurology patients on 5 July this year. The Neurology Advisory Group will ensure that there is system alignment and a national approach when considering the recommendations, which will be of benefit to patients. The Neurological Alliance report can be found at the following link:www.neural.org.uk/store/assets/files/696/original/Parity-of-esteem-for-people-affected-by-neuro-conditions-2017.pdf

Brain Cancer: Research

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of funding for research into brain cancer.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department funds research into all aspects of human health, including cancer, through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) at the level of £1 billion per year. NIHR cancer research expenditure has risen from £101 million in 2010/11 to £142 million in 2015/16. As with other Government funders of health research, the NIHR does not allocate funding for specific disease areas. The level of research spend in a particular area, such as brain cancer, is driven by factors including scientific potential and the number and scale of successful funding applications. The Department of Health Task and Finish Working Group on Brain Tumour Research is bringing together clinicians, charities, patients, and officials to discuss how, working together with research funding partners, we can address the need to increase the level and impact of research into brain tumours. The Working Group is chaired by Professor Chris Whitty, the Department's Chief Scientific Adviser. The Working Group met for the fourth time on 26 July, and plans to report to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Lord O’Shaughnessy) by autumn 2017.

Surrogate Motherhood: Lone Parents

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for the introduction of the Remedial Order relating to the Human Fertility and Embryology Act to allow single people to apply for parental orders.

Mr Philip Dunne: Drafting work on the remedial order is ongoing which we currently estimate will be laid in the autumn session of Parliament.

Depressive Illnesses

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the level of support interventions available for socially isolated and vulnerable people suffering from depression.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This information is not collected in the format requested. Mental health datasets do not record social isolation as a category.The 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey showed that most mental disorders were more common in people who live alone and Public Health England has suggested that there is evidence suggesting a connection between loneliness and poor mental health outcomes, as well as physical outcomes. Loneliness can be linked to anxiety and depression. Services for anxiety and depression are covered as part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy service.

Prisoners: Older People

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what specific medical provision has been put in place for prisoners who are over 60 years of age.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England is responsible for commissioning all healthcare services for prisoners (including drug and alcohol services) in England. Services are commissioned for individual prisons by NHS England’s local commissioners, based on a local health needs assessment which informs the provision required. In the case of the primary and secondary healthcare commissioned services, there are national specifications to which patient specific services can be added. For those prisons which have predominantly elderly patient cohorts, these additions will ensure that age related conditions are specifically assessed and provided for. NHS England commissions specific dementia care service, end of life and palliative care provision, supports the prisons’ approach to the local authorities’ assessment and management of social care, and ensures that elderly patients are supported in accessing healthcare services.

Pregnancy: Mental Health Services

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to increase awareness of perinatal mental health during antenatal classes.

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of mental health advice given by healthcare professionals during antenatal periods.

Jackie Doyle-Price: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on antenatal care recommends that a discussion of mental health issues should be offered to pregnant women at booking (ideally 10 weeks). This is the minimum that commissioners should be contracting against with maternity providers. The Department does not collect data on the quality of mental health advice given by healthcare professionals during the antenatal period. The Department is investing £365 million from 2015/16 to 2020/21 in perinatal mental health services, and NHS England is leading a transformation programme to ensure that by 2020/21 at least 30,000 more women each year are able to access evidence-based specialist mental health care during the perinatal period. A key element of the programme is to increase awareness and skills across the workforce, supporting better identification of perinatal mental illness, early intervention and improved recovery rates.

Community Health Services: Liverpool

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to appoint a provider of Liverpool community trust services; and what criteria are being used to identify that provider.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what accounts will be provided as (a) recurrent and (b) non-recurrent funding to the provider of Liverpool care services; and for how long non-recurrent funding is expected to be provided.

Steve Brine: NHS Improvement has informed us a decision on the preferred provider is expected to be made by the end of September, and the transaction completed by 1 April 2018. The criteria that will be used to assess the proposals cover the four key domains of financial sustainability, deliverability, clinical quality and strategic context. The recurrent and non-recurrent funding envelope, as well as the duration of the non-recurrent funding, is currently being determined by the Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group.

Physician Associates

Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department is making on introducing statutory regulation of physician associates in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Government is committed to supporting the development of a modern health and care workforce as part of the continuing drive to provide safe, accessible and high quality care for patients and service users. The extension of statutory regulation to groups currently unregulated will only be considered where there is a solid body of evidence demonstrating a level of risk to the public which cannot be addressed through other means of assurance, including Accredited Voluntary Registers.As my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced in his speech to NHS Providers in November 2016, the Department is developing proposals for a public consultation to consider whether physician associates should be regulated.

Action On Smoking and Health

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department provided to Action on Smoking and Health in 2016-17; what funding his Department plans to provide to that group over 2017-18; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The Department has issued a grant of £160,000, under section 63 of the Health and Social Care Act 1968, to Action on Smoking and Health for financial year 2016/17. From 2017/18, Cabinet Office guidelines require that any section 64 funding must be awarded on a competitive basis.

Cancer: Euratom

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he had with his Cabinet colleagues on the potential effect on cancer patients of the Government's decision to leave Euratom, before that decision was announced.

Steve Brine: Medical radio-isotopes, used in the treatment of some cancers, are not subject to Euratom Supply Agency contracts or to Euratom safeguards. Therefore the United Kingdom’s ability to import medical isotopes from Europe and the rest of the world, and cancer patients’ treatment, will not be affected by withdrawing from Euratom.

Maternity Services

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2017 to Question 4054, whether the recommendations in the national neonatal review are intended to inform the development of local maternity system plans.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Neonatal Critical Care Review is an important part of the Maternity Transformation Programme and the review findings will inform directly the development of Local Maternity System Plans.

Locums: Accident and Emergency Departments

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2017 to Question 4862 on Locums: Accident and Emergency Departments, how much each NHS Trust spent on locum staff in each of the last seven years.

Mr Philip Dunne: Data is not available for spend on locum staff in each National Health Service trust in each of the last seven years. However, the total figures for agency spend are available for each year from 2013-14 to 2016-17. YearTotal English NHS trusts spending on agency staff (£ billion)2016/172.9352015/163.6322014/153.1892013/142.589

Pregnancy: Depressive Illnesses

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how his Department plans to engage with the PANDAS Foundation Pre and Postnatal Depression Awareness Week from 4 September to 10 September 2017.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department works closely with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, a coalition of United Kingdom organisations committed to improving perinatal mental health, of which the PANDAS Foundation is a member.

Opiates: Misuse

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to respond to the report, entitled Reducing opioid-related deaths in UK, published on 12 December 2016 by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Steve Brine: The Government has now responded to the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs on the recommendations contained in its report ‘Reducing opioid-related deaths in the United Kingdom’, and will publish the response on the Gov.UK website shortly.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Construction: Payment Methods

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to publish the (a) Pye Tait research and (b) consultation documents on the practice of cash retentions.

Margot James: The Department will be publishing the Pye Tait research alongside a consultation document on the practice of cash retentions under construction shortly.

Companies

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to publish its response to the Corporate Governance Reform consultation.

Margot James: The Government published its response to the Green Paper consultation on Corporate Governance Reform on 29 August 2017. A copy of the response can be found: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/640631/corporate-governance-reform-government-response.pdf

Research

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of the distribution of research and development establishments on regional inequality.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will review ways of allocating Government investment in research and development to ensure regional equality.

Joseph Johnson: Research and development is an important driver of productivity and growth both nationally and locally. The Government’s Industrial Strategy identified a range of other factors that also contribute to growth including skills, trade and inward investment, infrastructure, business support and sectors. The Government recognises that different places have different needs. Science and Innovation Audits are helping to develop the evidence base of where local research strength, innovation capability and potential markets are aligned. These audits are an important contribution to understanding of the strengths and opportunities of different regions as the Government develops an Industrial Strategy that works for all parts of the country.

Industry

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of a sectoral approach to industrial strategy on regional inequality.

Claire Perry: It is right that Government supports sectors across the country to grow, invest and reach their potential. This is why we have invited British business to come forward with proposals for sector deals to advance the productivity of their particular sectors. Sector led proposals should be consistent with our Industrial Strategy and should demonstrate how they have been developed in partnership with local partners in key areas of competitive advantage for the specific sector across the country.

Post Offices

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish a response to the Post Office consultation that closed in December 2016.

Margot James: The Government will publish a response to the consultation in due course.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on feed-in tariffs for solar energy.

Richard Harrington: The Feed-in Tariff scheme remains open and provides an incentive for small scale solar PV generators to invest in generating renewable electricity.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent investment the Government has made to support the supply chain for the automotive sector.

Claire Perry: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nuclear Reactors

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the potential contribution of small modular nuclear reactors to UK energy supply.

Richard Harrington: The Techno-Economic Assessment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) was commissioned by the Government to help build the evidence base on SMRs. The report has helped the Government assess the contribution SMRs could make to the UK energy supply as well as identifying the benefits and risks of SMR deployment. The Government intends to publish the Techno-Economic Assessment in the autumn.

Post Offices: Closures

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether there will be further closures of Crown post offices in addition to those announced in January 2017.

Margot James: Any changes to the Crown branches are operational matters for the Post Office. The announcement made by the business in January was to seek franchise partners to run branches in their communities. Where Post Office find a partner, communities will not lose a branch but it will relocate to a new store. Post Office is continually reviewing its network to ensure it has the right branches in the right locations to deliver the best and most efficient service to its customers. This may lead to further changes to the Crown estate in due course.

Trading Standards

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of local government funding changes on the operations of trading standards departments in local authorities.

Margot James: Funding and prioritisation for trading standards are decisions for local authorities – accountable to local communities and the people they serve.Government recognises that consumer protection goes beyond local authority boundaries, and therefore provides £15m per year for coordinated Trading Standards activity in the UK.

Railways: Fife

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to announce a decision on Government funding for the Levenmouth Rail Link as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region deal.

Claire Perry: On 20 July the UK and Scottish Government’s agreed an ambitious city deal for Edinburgh and South East Scotland which will see over £1 billion of public and private sector investment channelled into Scotland’s capital and the surrounding region. As part of this deal the UK Government has committed £300 million of new funding for the area; investment which will drive research and development, innovation and the creation of new jobs across the region for years ahead.With regard to the Levenmouth Rail Link, the Hon. Gentleman will be aware that rail infrastructure is a devolved matter and his query should be directed to the Scottish Government.

Natural Gas: Storage

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will direct the Oil and Gas Authority under the provisions of the Energy Act 2016 to investigate the financial viability of gas storage operations in the UK.

Richard Harrington: It is not the role of the Oil and Gas Authority to conduct such an assessment. The Department has recently undertaken a full strategic assessment of our long-term gas security, and we will publish this in due course.

Natural Gas: Storage

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will direct the Oil and Gas Authority under the provisions of the Energy Act 2016 in the public interest to consider the decision to close the Rough gas storage facility.

Richard Harrington: There has been significant investment in the UK’s natural gas supply infrastructure over the last decade. As a result we benefit from highly diverse and flexible sources of natural gas, including: production from the North Sea; six international gas pipelines with Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands; three Liquefied Natural Gas terminals that can bring gas from anywhere in the world; and a number of modern, responsive gas storage facilities. On this basis I do not consider it appropriate to invoke the provisions under Section 8 of the Energy Act 2016. The Department has recently undertaken a full strategic assessment of our long-term gas security, and we will publish this in due course.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many people are in receipt of a pension from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme; and how many of those people are in each constituency.

Richard Harrington: The scheme is not administered by the Government but by the Scheme Trustees. The Department does not, therefore, hold this information and such requests should be made to the Trustees.

Iron and Steel: Procurement

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the expected tonnage of the UK steel pipeline as a result of public sector procurement in each of the next three years.

Claire Perry: The Government has published details of upcoming steel requirements for national infrastructure projects:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-1116-procuring-steel-in-major-projects-revised-guidance .The data shows how the government plans to use three million tonnes of steel until 2020 on infrastructure projects such as High Speed 2 (HS2), the construction of Hinkley Point, and the maintenance and upgrading of the UK’s motorway network. This steel-specific pipeline complements the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which set out over £500 billion worth of planned private and public investment. However a breakdown of expected steel requirements is not available on a year by year basis.

Energy: Meters

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 70526, on energy: meters, what the cost was of installing those 0.33 million smart meters.

Richard Harrington: We do not have access to the detailed energy supplier information on these specific installs that would enable us to calculate the cost of this particular set of smart meters.Work is underway to allow SMETS1 meters to be enrolled into the Data and Communications Company. Once this is complete, smart meters that are currently operating in traditional mode will become fully interoperable with all energy suppliers, and therefore able to operate again in smart mode.

Energy: Meters

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 24 April 2017 to Question 70526, on energy: meters, what was linked to the change in benefits reported in table 2.2 of the 2016 cost benefit analysis.

Richard Harrington: The change in net benefits in table 2.2 of the 2016 Smart Meter Roll-out Cost-Benefit Analysis results from changes to a range of costs and benefit estimates including assumptions on the future cost of energy; the replacement of estimated costs with firm costs; updates on energy supplier rollout plans; changes to expected network and load shifting benefits; and methodological updates. These are set out in sections 2.3, 2.4, 2.6, 2.10, 2.11 and 2.13 of the publication.

Energy: Meters

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 70525, for what reasons SMETS1 meters will continue to be rolled out when SMETS2 meters are ready for installation.

Richard Harrington: We have provided for a transition period until July 2018 for energy suppliers to phase out SMETS1 meters and to scale up their deployment of SMETS2 meters. This is to allow energy suppliers to test their business systems and SMETS2 meters through the Data and Communications Company and to retrain their installers. Doing so will help ensure that energy consumers receive good service upon installation of the new interoperable smart meters. In the meantime, consumers who want to save money and take control of their energy use can still benefit from SMETS1 meters.

Foreign Companies: Registration

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on Overseas companies and other legal entities beneficial ownership register.

Margot James: The responses to the call for evidence are currently being analysed and a response will be published in due course.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has received from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme Trustees on surplus-sharing arrangements.

Richard Harrington: On two occasions in the past (2000 and 2006), the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme Trustees requested changes to the surplus-sharing arrangements. On each occasion, the Government considered that the existing arrangements were working well and fair to all parties. Since then, the scheme has continued to deliver bonuses to members.

Energy: Meters

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 70619, on energy meters, what level of allowance has been made for the plan to enroll and adopt SMETS1 meters into the Data and Communications Company.

Richard Harrington: We do not have access to the detailed energy supplier information on these specific installs that would enable us to calculate the cost of this particular set of smart meters.Work is underway to allow SMETS1 meters to be enrolled into the Data and Communications Company. Once this is complete, smart meters that are currently operating in traditional mode will become fully interoperable with all energy suppliers, and therefore able to operate again in smart mode.

Energy: Meters

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 70617, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of smart meters being operated in traditional mode in domestic properties.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2017 to Question 64508, whether consumers who switch energy provider and whose smart meters are then inoperable in smart mode accrue any benefits from the installation of those meters.

Richard Harrington: At the time of our latest available official statistics (31 March 2017), we estimate that there were approximately 460,000 SMETS1 meters being operated in traditional mode. Work is underway to allow SMETS1 meters to be operated in smart mode by any energy supplier by enrolling them into the Data and Communications Company.Smart meters temporarily operating in traditional mode will continue to accurately record energy use and the IHD (In-Home Display) will show energy consumption, helping consumers to save money. Consumers are also able to obtain meter readings via the IHD and so will not have the inconvenience of needing to access the meter interface.

Directors: Pay

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will ensure that listed companies publish the ratio of executive pay to the average pay of the broader UK workforce.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to make executive pay packages subject to annual votes by shareholders.

Margot James: The Government published its response to consultation on the Green Paper on Corporate Governance Reform on 29th August.The response sets out the Government’s plans to introduce secondary legislation to require quoted companies to report annually the ratio of CEO pay to the average pay of their UK workforce along with a narrative explaining changes to that ratio from year to year and setting the ratio in the context of pay and conditions across the wider workforce.Companies already face a binding vote on their executive remuneration policy at least once every three years, and must win a binding shareholder vote for any executive pay proposals that deviate from that policy. Most listed companies secure strong backing from their shareholders for their executive pay arrangements and are sensitive to shareholder concerns.A minority, however, do not respond adequately to shareholder concerns. The Government has therefore invited the Financial Reporting Council to revise the UK Corporate Governance Code to be more specific about the steps that premium listed companies should take to understand and address shareholder concerns when they encounter significant opposition to their executive pay policies and awards.The Government has also invited the Investment Association to implement a proposal made in its response to the Green Paper to maintain a public register of listed companies encountering shareholder opposition to pay awards of 20% or more. This will be accompanied by a record of what these companies have said they are doing to address shareholder concerns. The Government will monitor the impact of these measures.A copy of the Government’s response to consultation on the Corporate Governance Reform green paper can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/corporate-governance-reform.

Energy: Vale of Clwyd

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the number and proportion of constituents in Vale of Clwyd constituency eligible for the safeguard price cap for energy.

Margot James: Ofgem is considering options to protect vulnerable consumers and has yet to announce a formal proposal. Alongside this Ofgem has announced a package of measures to help consumers move away from poor value tariffs.

Company Law: Disclosure of Information

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for offences related to the non-disclosure of Person of Significant Control of UK companies; and what the aggregate total of fines imposed was for such offences for the most recent period for which data is available.

Margot James: To date there have been no prosecutions for offences relating to the non-disclosure of Persons of Significant Control of UK Companies. Accordingly there have been no convictions or fines as yet.

Telephone Services: Fees and Charges

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 19 July 2017 to Question 4647, what steps he is taking to ensure firms comply with the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations with regard to the provision of basic rate customer services numbers; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: Local Trading Standards and their equivalent in Northern Ireland enforce the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. Traders are required to comply with these rules when dealing with consumers, including the provision of basic rate customer services numbers. Alleged breaches of legislation should be reported, in the first instance, through the Citizens Advice consumer helpline who will pass on complaints to the relevant enforcement authority where necessary.

Trading Standards

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to funding from central government for local authorities on the provision of trading standards services by councils.

Margot James: Funding and prioritisation for trading standards are decisions for local authorities – accountable to local communities and the people they serve.Government recognises that consumer protection goes beyond local authority boundaries, and therefore provides £15m per year for coordinated Trading Standards activity in the UK.

Energy

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the creation of a locally-based network of energy efficiency centres to offer advice on (a) energy efficiency to the public and (b) the generation of renewable energy by small businesses, schools, charities and households.

Richard Harrington: Local action by communities, by local businesses and by local authorities has a significant role to play in raising awareness of renewable energy and energy efficiency. We have and continue to support local organisations and groups not only to provide advice but also to lead action on these issues locally.This Government is committed to empowering communities and these projects, which put local people in the driving seat, are an important part of a clean, secure and affordable energy system. BEIS provides the Energy Saving Advice Service covering England and Wales. In 2016, over 15,000 callers were referred to local authority energy efficiency schemes or initiatives.Since 2013, the UK Government has committed over £16m to support community energy, including the Rural Community Energy Fund which continues to offer support and feasibility and development finance for community-scale renewable energy projects in England. The generation of renewable energy by small businesses, schools, charities and households also remains eligible for payments through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme.This Government sees local energy, of which community energy is a key part, as an important part of a wider local energy ecosystem; with cities, municipalities and local partners driving this agenda. As such we have already committed funding to identify and overcome local barriers to delivery in the short term while we understand the contribution and importance of this sector to the delivery of both the Industrial Strategy and the Clean Growth Strategy.

Business: Floods

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on support for businesses adversely affected by flooding.

Margot James: We have regular dialogue with the Department for Communities and Local Government. The two departments have an agreed approach to providing support to flooded business and communities, where a national response to a flooding event is triggered. We jointly provide funding through a single fund – the Community and Business Recovery Scheme. This is paid to local authorities in affected areas to provide support to households and businesses that have been flooded. We review arrangements periodically to make sure that they are fit for purpose.

Business: Solar Power

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to provide incentives for businesses to adopt rooftop solar energy installations.

Richard Harrington: Solar PV is a UK success story. In 2013 we estimated that solar capacity would reach 10-12GW by 2020. We now expect Government support to bring forward around 13 GW by 2020. The Feed-in Tariff remains open to solar PV which provides an incentive for businesses to invest in rooftop solar.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Welsh Language

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which online services provided by his Department are available in the Welsh language only on request.

Margot James: Following the creation of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy last year, it has been agreed with the Welsh Language Commissioner (WLC), that we will work to develop a BEIS Welsh Language Scheme, which will cover our approach to online services.The Welsh Language Schemes of both BEIS’ main predecessor Departments (BIS and DECC) commit us ‘so far as is both appropriate in the circumstances and reasonably practicable, to the principle established by the Welsh Language Act that, in the conduct of public business and the administration of justice in Wales, the Welsh and English languages should be treated on a basis of equality.’ This means where, for example, correspondence is received online by BEIS in Welsh, it will be answered in Welsh. A number of our partner organisations also provide online services in Welsh.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the potential number of Acts or parts of Acts that will be subject to repeal as a result of provisions in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

Margot James: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, (BEIS) has been analysing the UK statute book and directly applicable EU law in its areas of responsibility to enable an assessment of the scale of the changes needed. This is likely to include the repeal, but also the amendment, of provisions in Acts but we are not in a position to give a sense of scale at this time.In the Government White Paper on the Repeal Bill, ‘Legislating for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union’, published on 30 March 2017, the Government has estimated around 800 - 1,000 EU-exit related Statutory Instruments will be required.

Ministry of Defence

Warships: Shipbuilding

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2017 to Question 435, what assessment he has made of the effect on the shipping industry of the time taken to publish the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government is committed to publishing the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Industry have been engaged in the development of the Strategy, which will be published in due course.

Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2017 to Question 4675, what elements of maintenance, repair and overhaul work in relation to the P-8A programme will be undertaken at the planned P-8A facility at RAF Lossiemouth.

Harriett Baldwin: While initial support will be provided in the USA as part of the foreign military sale arrangement with the US Government, work is under way to define the longer term support structure (from 2020 onwards). We are currently refining the UK-based maintenance, repair, upgrade and overhaul work requirements.

Boeing

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2017 to Question 4675, if he will list the components to be manufactured at Boeing's planned factory in Sheffield that will be used in his Department's planned programmes.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government welcomes Boeing's announcement on 24 February 2017 to locate their first civil aerospace manufacturing facility in Europe at Sheffield. This new facility will export £80 million of actuation components a year, initially for Boeing's civil 737 commercial aircraft programmes and it is likely to play a role on the military P8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

Boeing

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2017 to Question 4675, which companies had representatives at that event in Seattle.

Harriett Baldwin: The companies who had representatives at the April 2017 Technology Showcase event held in Seattle are in the attached list.



6308 - Technology Showcase event in Seattle
(Word Document, 21.14 KB)

Warships: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with Aircraft Carrier Alliance prime contractors on procurement of new RFA Fleet Solid Support ships.

Harriett Baldwin: We plan to procure the three Fleet Solid Support ships, announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, through international competition.Initial engagement with potential suppliers was at an Industry Day in July 2016. Industry attendees included member companies of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) acting in an independent capacity and not as representatives of the ACA. There have been no bilateral discussions with any potential suppliers.

Military Bases: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what analysis was conducted of military sites in the City of York before the publication of his Department's Better Defence Estates strategy.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The analysis underpinning the Better Defence Estate Strategy was developed with military advice from the Front Line Commands and was endorsed by the Defence Board, in order to transform an estate built for previous military requirements into one that will better support the Armed Forces' future needs.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces compensation scheme claims were turned down due to the claimant exceeding the seven year time limit before submitting a claim in (a) 2014, (b) 2015 and (c) 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The number of applications recorded on the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme computer system as being turned down due to the claim exceeding the seven year time limit are as follows:201420152016233473

Ministry of Defence Police: Recruitment

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Ministry of Defence Police recruitment.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence Police continues to recruit sufficient officers to meet current and anticipated vacancies within funding constraints.

Armed Forces: Housing

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service houses there are in the City of York local authority area.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: There are 348 service houses within the City of York Local Authority area.

Military Bases: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the training facilities available at Gamecock Barracks, Nuneaton and Strensall Station, York are of the same standard.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Better Defence Estates Strategy aims to enhance military capability; this includes providing good training facilities. Gamecock Barracks is currently optimised for a different capability but the future collocation there of medical units will create opportunities to deliver the required training facilities. Gamecock Barracks is much closer to the specialist defence medical centres in Birmingham and Lichfield and so also provides better synergies in terms of training delivery and continuity of skills for Army medical personnel. Relocation of medical units to locations close to these centres brings a number of additional benefits, including enabling greater stability for Service families by reducing the mobility requirement for Service personnel.

Defence Vetting Agency: Young People

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many young people are employed by the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting in the City of York.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As at 30 June 2017, 46 individuals under the age of 30 years were employed by Defence Business Services UK Security Vetting in the City of York.

Civil Servants: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of civil servants in the City of York are employed by his Department.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As of 31 March 2017 there were 439 civil servants employed by the Ministry of Defence in the City of York. This represents 17.4 per cent of civil servants in the City of York.

Reserve Forces: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reserve personnel are registered in City of York Local Authority area.

Mark Lancaster: As at 1 April 2017 an estimated 610 Future Reserves 2020 personnel were stationed in the City of York Local Authority area.

Armed Forces: Housing

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many additional (a) family houses and (b) single living accommodation will be required for (i) officers and (ii) non-commissioned staff at Gamecock Barracks, Nuneaton as a result of the proposals in his Department's Better Defence Estate report, published in November 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The number of additional staff located at Gamecock Barracks has yet to be determined. Therefore, the amount of additional accommodation required is yet to be determined.

Armed Forces: Hospitals

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) military, (b) civilian and (c) contracted staff were employed at 34 Field Hospital on the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As at 1 June 2017, there were 102 military personnel employed by 34 Field Hospital. It has one Civil Service post but this is currently vacant. In addition, some 30 Military Provost Guard Service personnel serve at Queen Elizabeth Barracks supporting the whole barracks, not just the Field Hospital.The only contractors who work at the hospital are those that deliver cleaning and maintenance through a centralised Facilities Management contract, for which numbers are not available.

Kohima Museum

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to close the Kohima Museum at Imphal Barracks as a result of the proposals in his Department's Better Defence Estate report, published in November 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Discussions regarding future use of the Kohima museum have not yet taken place as the site is not due for closure until 2031. The museum will be considered in any future discussions.

Gamecock Barracks

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of changes to the level of (a) military, (b) civilian and (c) contracted staff employed at Gamecock Barracks as a result of proposals in his Department's Better Defence Estate report.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The number of staff required at Gamecock Barracks after the implementation of the Better Defence Estate Strategy has yet to be determined.

Military Bases: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's report, Better Defence Estate, published in November 2016, whether a full asbestos risk assessment has been carried out at military sites in the City of York local authority area.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Asbestos risk assessments are carried out if the infrastructure is changed or sold. Asbestos risk surveys will be carried out for all sites in the City of York local authority area. This is part of the routine disposal process for all sites owned by the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence: Military Bases

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have had on the Better Defence Estate programme with (i) City of York Council and (ii) representatives of military units and civilian staff based in York.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Military and civilian units based in the city of York were represented by their chain of command in the fundamental design of the Better Defence Estate Strategy which was agreed by respective Service Chiefs in advance of the announcement. The day after the Better Defence Estate strategy announcement in November 2016, a meeting was held with all military and civilian staff based in each of the York sites, to inform them of the implications of the programme. Officials have met with York Council on four occasions and will continue to work with them on an on-going basis. There have been no meetings between Ministers and York Council representatives.

Gamecock Barracks

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which military units he plans to locate at Gamecock Barracks as a result of the proposals in his Department's Better Defence Estate report, published in November 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The military units required at Gamecock Barracks has yet to be determined.

Ministry of Defence: Telephone Services

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on armed forces careers helplines in each of the last five years.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which private sector organisations are contracted by his Department to provide armed forces careers helplines; and what the total value of those contracts is.

Mark Lancaster: Dataforce provided the Naval Service with a careers helpline in financial years (FY) 2012-13, FY 2013-14 and the first part of FY 2014-15, with Teleperformance providing a careers helpline from the later part of FY 2014-15. Capita provides the Army with a comprehensive Recruiting Partnering Project. For the Royal Air Force, careers helplines were provided by Call Credit Marketing Ltd in FY 2012-13, Echo Managed Services in FYs 2013-14 and 2014-15 and by Teleperformance in FYs 2015-16 and 2016-17. I am withholding the financial information relating to these contracts as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Ministry of Defence: Policy

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2016-17 published on 18 July 2017, what assessment he has made of the Authority's decision to flag seven of his Department's projects amber/red on his Department's policies.

Harriett Baldwin: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) welcomes the independent analysis that the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) provides. The MOD takes the IPA's recommendations extremely seriously and we will continue to exert significant effort within these challenging programmes to resolve the issues highlighted and increase delivery confidence.

Military Decorations: World War II

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Arctic Stars and (b) Bomber Command clasps have been issued to date.

Mark Lancaster: As at 25 July 2017, a total of 26,697 Arctic Stars and 13,905 Bomber Command clasps have been issued to eligible veterans and their next of kin.

Military Decorations: World War II

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps for the issuing of a full medal for Bomber Command veterans.

Mark Lancaster: There is widespread admiration for the major contribution that the personnel of Bomber Command made to the Allied victory in the Second World War and their commitment in the face of significant losses.Those who completed the minimum qualifying period of service in operational areas were eligible for the 1939-45 Star and those with long service in non-operational areas received the Defence Medal. In addition to the 1939-45 Star and Defence Medal, a series of Campaign Stars were created for participants in campaigns and many Bomber Command aircrew were awarded the much-prized Air Crew Europe Star or the France and Germany Star.In his independent Medals Review in 2012, Sir John Holmes concluded that Bomber Command had been treated inconsistently with those who served in Fighter Command, and his recommendation of the award of the clasp to Bomber Command air crew is to bring this Command into line with Fighter Command veterans who were awarded a Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939-45 Star and thus reflecting the significant contribution both made to defeating the Nazi threat. The Government has accepted the recommendations of that review.

RAF Northolt: Aviation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to take steps to replace revenue lost from commercial flights as a result of closing RAF Northolt's runway for eight months.

Harriett Baldwin: There are no plans to replace revenue lost from commercial flights as a result of the planned closure of RAF Northolt's runway for resurfacing.

RAF Northolt: Aviation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the runway at RAF Northolt is a code 3 runway with a landing distance of 1,354 metres; and whether there are plans to change the categorisation of that runway as a result of the renovation works.

Harriett Baldwin: The runway at RAF Northolt is a code 3 runway, which is defined as a runway of 1,200-1,800 metres in length. There is no planned change to the categorisation of the runway following the renovation works.

RAF Northolt: Aviation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many additional shifts air traffic controllers were required to work above the number specified in their contracts at RAF Northolt last 12 months.

Harriett Baldwin: The air traffic control tower at RAF Northolt is routinely manned by military personnel for operational reasons between 0730 and 0100. Military personnel are not contracted to defined numbers of shifts.

RAF Northolt: Aviation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much is received in payment for the use of RAF Northolt for commercial flights.

Harriett Baldwin: Income received from the use of RAF Northolt for commercial aviation for the last financial year is given below:  Financial YearCommercial Aviation (£ million)Aviation Leases (£ million)Total income (£ million)2016-178.60.28.8

Aircraft Carriers

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans are in place to establish a joint US-UK experimental aircraft carrier force unit.

Harriett Baldwin: As the only level one partner on F-35, we have been working closely with the US from the outset of the Programme. We have also been working through the UK/US Statement of Intent on Carrier Co-operation which has ensured continuity of our skills. Most recently, under these arrangements the UK Secretary of State for Defence and the US Secretary of Defense announced that USMC F-35B aircraft would embark in HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH's first operational deployment in 2021. This will be the subject of more detailed planning over the coming years. We will continue to identify opportunities to develop interoperability with our allies in the future.

Corrie McKeague

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide an update on the search for the missing RAF serviceman Corrie McKeague.

Mark Lancaster: Our thoughts continue to be with Corrie McKeague's family at this very difficult time. Primacy remains with the civilian police. However, Ministry of Defence officials have remained engaged with the civilian police throughout the search for Corrie and will continue to provide appropriate support and assistance.

Military Bases: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the safety and suitability for house building of military sites in the City of York.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: No assessment has been made by the Department of the suitability for house building on military sites in the City of York, this is a matter for any potential new purchaser in conjunction with the Local Planning Authority. In accordance with standard procedure, a Land Quality Assessment will be undertaken by the Department prior to any sale.

Armed Forces: Health

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding has been allocated to his Department's Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy launched on 20 July is aimed at providing a better focus and use of existing services including welfare support, training and education, anti-stigma campaigns and mental health services provided by Defence Medical Services, the National Health Service in England and the Devolved Administrations and charities. The Strategy is well resourced through connected agencies and services which the forthcoming Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Action Plan will take on and develop.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on goods and services provided by small and medium-sized enterprise in each of the last five years.

Harriett Baldwin: Information on how much the Ministry of Defence has spent directly on goods and services provided by small and medium-sized enterprises in each of the last five years can be accessed at Table 6a of the excel tables published in the Trade Industry & Contracts Statistical Bulletin, which can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-trade-industry-and-contracts-2016.

Armed Forces: Training

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) RAF have completed trauma risk management training in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) training is valid for three years, and the Services operate a continual programme of revalidation and training of new personnel, to allow for staff turnover. The Royal Navy currently has 1,426 qualified TRiM practitioners, of whom 806 are Team Leaders. The numbers trained in each of the last five full “training years” is as follows: Training Year (April-March)Team LeadersPractitionersTotal2012-131222243462013-141362323682014-152012184192015-162662154812016-17303205508  The Army currently has 1,992 qualified TRiM practitioners, of whom 675 are Co-ordinators (the term used by the Army for Team Leaders). The numbers trained in each of the last five full “training years” is as follows: Training Year (April-March)Co-ordinators/ Team LeadersPractitionersTotal2012-131635226852013-142145868002014-151686438112015-163157141,0292016-173968531,249  The Royal Air Force currently has 1,826 qualified TRiM practitioners, of whom 367 are Team Leaders. The numbers trained in each of the last five full “training years” is as follows: Training Year (April-March)Team LeadersPractitionersTotal2012-13834885712013-14795726512014-151116737842015-161437048472016-17139794933

Armed Forces: Health

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provision will be made for former spouses of service personnel following divorce or separation as part of his Department's Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy will provide a better focus and use of existing services provided by Defence Medical Services, the National Health Service (NHS) in England and the Devolved Administrations and charities. The NHS has primary responsibility for healthcare, including mental healthcare, for former spouses of Service personnel residing in the UK following divorce or separation except those registered with Defence Medical Services. There is no separate provision through the Strategy for former spouses of Service personnel but the Strategy provides the platform for collaborative working with the NHS (including through our commissioning group) to ensure that the needs of former spouses are met in the context of improving mental health under the Five Year Forward view in England.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the proportion of new contracts placed competitively by his Department was in each of the last five years.

Harriett Baldwin: Information on the proportion of new contracts placed competitively by the Ministry of Defence in each of the last five years can be accessed at Table 7 of the excel tables published in the Trade Industry and Contracts Statistical Bulletin, which can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-trade-industry-and-contracts-2016.

Army: Recruitment

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the This is Belonging campaign by the Army was marketed to 16 to 24 year-olds in lower socio-economic groups.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the cities of Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Belfast and Cardiff were up-weighted in the marketing for the This is Belonging campaign by the Army.

Mark Lancaster: As a mass employer, the Army necessarily recruits from across all geographic and societal areas of the United Kingdom. The "This is Belonging" campaign is a national recruitment campaign aimed at a wide variety of young people from across society. In developing such campaigns the Army does recognise and factor in that there are a number of key characteristics including age, academic achievement and socio-economic profiles that influence the attraction of candidates to the Army.The cities of Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Belfast and Cardiff, as well as being significant areas of mass population within the UK, have a proud historical record as strong recruiting areas for the Army and this is recognised within the campaign.The Army provides excellent employment opportunities and is Britain's biggest provider of apprenticeships offering chances not just for a job, but for a long successful career, supporting social mobility in society.

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Jo Churchill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel claimed the Armed Forces Independence Payment in each year (a) before 6 April 2005 and (b) from 6 April 2005.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) was not introduced until 8 April 2013. The number of currently serving Armed Forces personnel who claimed AFIP in each Financial Year since that date is set out below:  Financial YearAFIP Claimants2013-1436*2014-1552015-1672016-176  Total54 *The higher number of claimants in Financial Year 2013/14 includes those who were eligible to claim retrospectively from the date of inception of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme on 6 April 2005.  AFIP only becomes payable once an individual leaves the Armed Forces and is in receipt of a Guaranteed Income Payment of 50% or more, under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Ministry of Defence: Billing

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 5 of his Department's Finance and Economics Annual Bulletin - Trade, Industry and Contracts 2016, how much was paid through (a) competitive and (b) non-competitive contracts to foreign-owned organisations.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 6 of his Department's Finance and Economics Annual Bulletin - Trade, Industry and Contracts 2016, which foreign-owned organisations were paid more than £5 million by his Department and its trading funds; and how much each of those organisations received.

Harriett Baldwin: The Ministry of Defence routinely publishes statistics on organisations paid more than £5 million and the levels of expenditure against competitive and non-competitive contracts, which is published at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-trade-industry-and-contracts-2016.Similar detail for foreign-owned organisations could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Defence: Billing

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total value was of invoices provided by foreign-owned organisations in (a) dollars, (b) euros, (c) sterling and (d) other currencies processed by DBS Finance in each of the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years.

Harriett Baldwin: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Social Rented Housing: Prosecutions

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many prosecutions there have been in England for the illegal sub-letting of local authority or housing association property in the last year for which information is available; and what the largest penalty imposed for such an offence was.

Alok Sharma: The number of defendants proceeded against for offences under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013, by offence, in England, during 2016, can be viewed in the table:Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts of offences under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013, England, 2016 (1)(2)Section of ActOffenceTotal1(1)Sub-let or part with possession of a dwelling-house let under a secure tenancy in breach of a term of the tenancy111(2)Dishonestly sub-let or part with possession of dwelling-house let under secure tenancy in breach of a term of the tenancy32(1)Sub-let or part with possession of a dwelling-house let under an assured tenancy in breach of a term of the tenancy42(2)Dishonestly sub-let or part with possession of a dwelling-house let under an assured tenancy in breach of a term of the tenancy4All under the Act22(1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.(2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.During that period, the highest fine amounts imposed on offenders found guilty for offences under this Act were £1,500. However, the most serious penalties issued were two suspended sentences.

Social Rented Housing

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of local authority and housing association properties in England which are currently being sub-let illegally; and what steps the Government is taking to counter such illegal subletting.

Alok Sharma: The Department does not hold this information. In 2012 the Audit Commission estimated that nearly 98,000 (4 per cent) social homes in England could be subject to some form of tenancy fraud (Protecting the Public Purse 2012).The Government supported and implemented the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 which makes it a criminal offence to unlawfully sublet social housing. It also allows the court to award the social landlord the profit the tenant has made from their unlawful sub-letting, regardless of whether the landlord has incurred a loss.Between 2011 and 2015 the Department provided £19 million to local authorities to help them tackle tenancy fraud; and supported a team within the Chartered Institute of Housing to provide advice and support to all social landlords.

Children: Dental Health

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 25 April 2017 to Question 70856, what plans he has made to co-ordinate local authority programmes for improving children's oral health.

Mr Marcus Jones: The department has no such plans. It is the responsibility of each local authority to determine how best to deliver children’s oral health improvement services for the benefit of their local residents. Public Health England has published two key evidence based toolkits to assist local authorities with this:Delivering Better Oral Health - for dental teams to support preventive advice and treatment for their patients, including the prevention of tooth decay in children: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evidence-based-toolkit-for-preventionCommissioning Better Oral Health - to support local authorities in developing strategies to improve child oral health: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-oral-health-an-evidence-informed-toolkit-for-local-authorities

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 25 April 2017 to Question 70859, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a nationwide zero-carbon standard for all newly-built homes.

Alok Sharma: We have a duty under Section 165 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to undertake a review of the minimum energy performance requirements in the building regulations for new homes. We have started work on the review which will have due regard to our climate change targets.

Right to Buy Scheme

Heidi Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with relevant stakeholders including, housing associations, builders and developers on the need for a review of funding options for the Right-to-Buy scheme.

Alok Sharma: My officials and I have regular discussions with stakeholders on many issues including the Right to Buy.

Trading Standards

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he can take to require trading standards departments to enforce regulations.

Mr Marcus Jones: Where local authorities have a regulatory responsibility the Government expects them to fulfil that obligation. Local authorities are, however, independent from central government and their accountability is to their local electorate. Decisions on service provision and expenditure are at the discretion of individual local authorities having regard to their statutory duties. Concern about the actions, services or decisions of any particular local authority should be raised in the first instance with the Chief Executive of the relevant council. If this does not resolve the matter satisfactorily then contact may be made with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and further information can be found at http://www.lgo.org.uk/

Housing: EU Nationals

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he has received (a) representations or (b) reports on an increase in discrimination against non-UK EU nationals in respect of access to housing on account of the lack of legal certainty as to the future status of EU citizens in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Alok Sharma: My Department has not received any representations or reports raising concerns about discriminations against EU nationals in respect of access to housing.Our policy paper, “Safeguarding the position of EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU” published on 26 June, sets out the UK’s fair and serious offer to protect the rights of EU citizens living in the UK. This includes access to social housing for EU nationals.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities have made requests for central government funding to help with fire safety on tower blocks; how much funding has been requested in each such case; and how much funding has been approved or granted in each such case.

Alok Sharma: Where landlords have concerns about funding essential fire safety measures, they should approach us or the regulator, as appropriate, as soon as possible to discuss the position. Where works have been advised by local fire services to be essential to ensure the fire safety of a building, for local authorities we will ensure that current restrictions on the use of financial resources will not prevent them going ahead. The regulator of social housing can consider other options for housing associations. Any support offered would not include general improvements or enhancements to buildings which go beyond this. We will deal with any requests on a case by case basis.Following a letter sent on 31 July to all local authority and housing association Chief Executives, my Department has been contacted by 27 local authorities to discuss the position on funding. The regulator of social housing has also written separately to housing associations. No housing associations have contacted the Regulator so far. It would not be appropriate to provide details of each case whilst discussions are on-going.

Scotland Office

Local Growth Deals: Ayrshire

Bill Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with business and local representatives on the Ayrshire Growth Deal.

David Mundell: I have had a range of meetings with business and local representatives about supporting economic growth in Ayrshire, covering individual projects within a proposed Ayrshire Growth Deal and looking at how the UK’s Industrial Strategy will deliver for Ayrshire. In a significant step, on 9 August I was pleased to announce £3.5 million UK government investment to support the HALO project in Kilmarnock. This is a vital project that will strengthen Ayrshire’s economic prospects, create nearly 1000 jobs and benefit local businesses and residents.

Railways: Scotland

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on funding for reinstatement of the Levenmouth Rail Link as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region bid.

David Mundell: The proposals agreed under the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal were all originated by the Deal partners and I can confirm that it was not a project put forward by the local partners as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal. The UK Government’s contributions to City Deals focus on projects that fall in reserved policy areas. Transport policy is a devolved matter and within the City Deal, the rail link would have been an investment for the Scottish Government to consider. Any future investment in the rail link would be a decision for the Scottish Government, who have responsibility for rail investment in Scotland.

Women and Equalities

Sanitary Protection: VAT

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what funding the Government Equalities Office plans to make available to tackle period poverty; and whether she plans to meet her equivalent in the Scottish Parliament to discuss its initiative to provide sanitary products to women and girls on low incomes.

Anne Milton: No girl should be held back from reaching her potential because of her gender.Current guidance to schools on Relationship and Sex Education encourages schools to make adequate and sensitive arrangements to help girls cope with menstruation and with requests for sanitary protection.We have taken note of the Scottish Government’s pilot programme to provide free access to sanitary products for low-income women and female pupils and are looking for opportunities to discuss this further with them.

Equal Pay

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what estimate she has made of the gender pay gap in (a) Hampstead and Kilburn constituency, (b) London and (c) the UK in each year since 2010.

Anne Milton: The Office of National Statistics publishes the median hourly pay figures set out below, based on place of residence, annually.The UK gender pay gap is now at a historic low of 18.1%. However, while we have made progress, there is more to do to close the gap. In April this year, the UK became one of the first countries to introduce mandatory reporting of gender pay gaps and bonuses for voluntary, public and private sector employers with more than 250 staff. The new regulations are an important step in addressing the gender pay gap by highlighting where women are being held back, so that employers can take action.  Hampstead and Kilburn constituencyYearGender pay gap (%)201019.1201114.3201220.2201316.9201416.0201518.3201618.6 LondonYearGender pay gap (%)201012.9201114.1201210.9201313.1201411.9201513.1201612.5  UKYearGender pay gap (%)201019.8201120.2201219.6201319.8201419.2201519.3201618.1

LGBT People: Neath

Christina Rees: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent steps she has taken to remove barriers to inclusivity for LGBT individuals in Neath constituency.

Nick Gibb: This Government is committed to LGBT equality throughout the United Kingdom and that is why we are proud to have introduced marriage for same sex couples in England and Wales. We recently announced the launch of a National LGBT Survey asking LGBT people about their experiences of accessing public services, and our intention to consult on reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004. Equalities policy is a devolved matter so improving services and support for LGBT people locally would be the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

Equality Act 2010

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what plans she has to amend the Equalities Act.

Nick Gibb: The Equality Acts (2006 and 2010) are kept under review in case any amendments should become necessary.

Department for Transport

Railways: Wales

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contingency plans will be put in place if the handover of the Core Valley Lines asset from Network Rail to the Welsh Government does not take place.

Paul Maynard: The government continues to support the Welsh government in progressing the procurement of the next Wales and Borders rail franchise and an infrastructure provider for the South Wales Metro. Should the proposed transfer not take place, the Core Valley Lines infrastructure will continue to be owned and operated by Network Rail, as it is today.

Cardiff Central Station

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether all the relevant permissions and authorities have been secured to enable the transfer of control over investment and responsibility for Cardiff Central Rail Station to the Welsh Government.

Paul Maynard: Cardiff Central station is currently managed by Arriva Trains Wales, the Wales and Borders franchise operator. DfT is working closely with the Welsh Government to finalise the arrangements for the devolution of the Wales and Borders franchise, including the transfer of franchising powers and a funding settlement, during 2017. Devolution of the Wales and Borders franchise is not expected to change the existing arrangements for the funding and management of Cardiff Central station.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the decision on whether to create a (a) parkway station on the M18 route and (b) northern loop from Sheffield connecting to the main High Speed 2 railway.

Paul Maynard: Together with TfN, the government is continuing to work with HS2 Ltd and Network Rail in support of aspirations including Sheffield to Leeds connectivity; and work is also continuing on a parkway station. Details are set out in paras 6.4 and 6.14 of the “HS2 – Concept to Reality” document (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-from-concept-to-reality).We are looking to develop a clear set of proposals on these options - which relate directly to the HS2 network - before the end of 2017.

Railways: Disability

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effects of the planned introduction of driver-only operations by Arriva Rail North on disabled passengers.

Paul Maynard: As part of their licence to operate, each train operating company is required to have a Disabled Persons’ Protection Policy (DPPP) in place. This sets out the level of services and facilities that disabled passengers can expect, how to get staff assistance, and how to get help if things do go wrong. Each operator is also required to participate in the Passenger Assist system which allows disabled passengers to book staff assistance when they require it. In many instances across the country, staff on the platform are readily available to help disabled passengers. Train crew have a role too, however there is no link between accessibility and driver-only operation running of trains. For example on Southern Rail, 98% of trains that are operated by the driver retain a second member of staff on the train, who can help both able bodied and disabled passengers.

Bus Services: Concessions

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of introducing free weekend bus schemes akin to those being trialled by the Welsh Government and TrawsCymru in Wales.

Jesse Norman: There are no plans to introduce a blanket concession on cross-country bus travel in England, where the bus market (outside London) is deregulated. Decisions regarding service provision are primarily a commercial matter for bus and coach operators, many of whom already offer generous discounts on longer or inter-city journeys.Long-distance services are specifically excluded from the current English national concession which focusses on providing free off-peak local bus travel to eligible older and disabled people, helping them to remain active and independent in the community.

Railways: Safety

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he will take to ensure that all proposals for the removal of qualified Guards from train routes, including the Northern route, are required to identify an individual responsible for the safety and protection of the train, running lines and passengers in the event of an incident.

Paul Maynard: Safety on our railways is our first priority. The Office of Rail and Road have developed six principles which they expect duty holders to have regard to when introducing or extending driver controlled operation in their business, and when reviewing the operation of existing driver controlled operation services. The document can be found here: http://www.orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/24574/Railway-safety-principles-and-guidance-on-driver-controlled-operation.pdf Decisions on the staffing of train services are a matter for train operating companies who have a legal responsibility to ensure their staff receive the necessary training to safely carry out their duties.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the accuracy of the costings set out in the report into High Speed 2 by Michael Byng.

Paul Maynard: In January, we invited Michael Byng to provide details to substantiate his claims. None have been forthcoming. No Minister has met him or discussed his thoughts on costs. HS2 Ltd have a robust cost estimation process, which is developed by professional experts and subject to both a rigorous internal and external assurance process. HS2 is on time, and on budget at £55.7bn. We set that out in the 2015 Spending Review and it has not changed.

Crossrail 2 Line

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to announce his decision on the business case submitted by Transport for London for Crossrail 2.

Paul Maynard: The Government recognises the case for capacity improvements in London and the wider South East, such as those that Crossrail 2 could deliver. We are currently analysing the Strategic Outline Business Case, submitted by Transport for London, to ensure it is a robust investment with a fair and credible funding plan. This sits alongside the work we have recently agreed with the Mayor of London to examine ways to improve affordability ahead of this autumn’s Budget. Our next steps to deliver those capacity improvements will be decided when these strands of work are complete.

Railways: Tickets

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the introduction of part-time season tickets on train fare revenue.

Paul Maynard: Flexible multi-buy tickets give people who commute part-time a better deal than they would otherwise have access to. We have challenged the rail industry to develop proposals for pricing, and delivering more flexible ticketing options, for those who work or commute part-time, which could also attract new customers onto the railway. The Department has made early assessments with operators on the effect of the introduction of these types of tickets on fares revenue, and continues to review this policy going forward.

London-Brighton Railway Line

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 21 March 2017 to Question 68148, if he will take steps to safeguard for transport purposes critical land in the central Croydon area for the Brighton Mainline upgrade; what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail about that land; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Maynard: The Brighton Mainline upgrade proposals are at a relatively early stage of development. We are continuing to support Network Rail in refining the proposals, and as part of this we will consider advice it puts forward on land requirements. This assessment will be in light of the overall business case for the upgrade proposals.

Govia Thameslink Railway

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 25 July 2016 to Question 43366, for what reasons the requirements for services to be Driver Only Operation were (a) not redacted in the Invitation to Tender for the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) Franchise and (b) redacted on the GTR Franchise Agreement; if he will remove the redactions on the requirements for services to be Driver Only Operation on the GTR Franchise Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Maynard: The TSGN Invitation To Tender requirements for Driver Only Operation were not redacted as they were a stated requirement of the Department for all bidders. The requirements for Driver Only Operation were redacted from the TSGN Franchise Agreement on the grounds of commercial interests and they remain redacted on the same grounds.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the construction and electrification costs to enable HS2 trains to run from Sheffield Midland to Crofton; and whether those costs are included in HS2's budgets.

Paul Maynard: We do not provide cost breakdowns for specific items of the HS2 programme due to commercial sensitivities. The section of route you refer to is discussed in paragraph 4.12 of the Phase 2b Financial Case, published in July: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-phase-two-financial-case This Financial Case will be updated ahead of deposit of the Phase 2b hybrid Bill in 2019.

Midland Main Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that all rolling stock on the Midland Mainline will be compliant with disability discrimination legislation by 2020.

Paul Maynard: It is the responsibility for the operator of the East Midlands franchise to ensure the trains which are currently operated on the Midland Mainline meet modern accessibility standards by 2020. Any trains being introduced on to the line must also be built or modified to be compliant with those standards.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost of the construction and electrification work to enable HS2 trains to run from Toton to Sheffield Midland is; and whether that cost is included in HS2's budget.

Paul Maynard: We do not provide cost breakdowns for specific items of the HS2 programme due to commercial sensitivities.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the planned start and completion dates of construction work are on the (a) Toton to Leeds, (b) Toton to Sheffield Midlands and (c) Sheffield Midland to Crofton sections of High Speed 2.

Paul Maynard: HS2 Ltd expects construction of Phase 2b to begin in 2023 (subject to Hybrid Bill approval). We expect all construction stages across the route to be completed by 2032. This will be followed by a period of system testing and commissioning, with the railway opening for operations in 2033.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

China: Ethnic Groups and Religious Freedom

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on the issue of restrictions on religious freedoms and discrimination against ethnic minorities in China since the Government raised the matter at the UN Human Rights Council in March 2017.

Mark Field: ​We remain concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, and on the rights of ethnic minorities in China. We issued a further item IV statement at the 35th UN Human Rights Council in June reiterating these concerns. We also raised these matters directly with the Chinese authorities at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing on 27 June.

China: Falun Gong

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese Government on the (a) treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China and (b) use of executed prisoners' organs.

Mark Field: ​We remain concerned by restrictions placed on freedom of religion or belief in China, including on practitioners of Falun Gong.At the UK/China Human Rights dialogue on 27 June we discussed our concerns about restrictions placed on Falun Gong practitioners with the Chinese authorities. Furthermore, at the UN's Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2017, the UK issued a statement which highlighted our concerns about restrictions placed on religious freedoms in China.We continue to be concerned about reports of involuntary organ removal in China and have repeatedly raised this issue with the Chinese authorities.

Sri Lanka: Foreign Relations

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met his Sri Lankan counterpart; and the subjects that were discussed at that meeting.

Mark Field: I have not yet met my Sri Lankan counterpart but I look forward to doing so in the near future and I am hoping to visit Sri Lanka within the next month. My predecessor, now Minister of State for Housing and Planning, met the then Foreign Minister during bilateral discussions at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on 28 February 2017. Their talks focused on Sri Lanka's co-sponsorship of Resolution 34/1 and how Sri Lanka could deliver on its international commitments on human rights and reconciliation.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Disease Control

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the (a) effect of growing resistance to drugs and insecticides in developing countries and (b) new scientific tools required to improve prevention and treatment of malaria.

Alistair Burt: Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a UK government priority. Lord O’Neill’s AMR review, published in May 2016, sets out the scale of the global challenge, including in developing countries. Insecticide and drug resistance pose a real threat to the recent progress seen on malaria. DFID supports developing new drugs and new insecticides, in response to current levels of resistance. We also support drug management programmes that decrease the chances of resistance building up, and other measures of tackling malaria, such as the use of bednets.

Overseas Aid

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to improve oversight of the UK Aid Strategy across Government; and what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the recommendation by the National Audit Office on her Department improving its assessment of overall effectiveness of ODA expenditure and its coherence across Government.

Rory Stewart: In line with commitments in the UK Aid Strategy, DFID and Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) have introduced robust monitoring, governance and oversight arrangements to ensure value for money of all of Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend, including through setting up an ODA Senior Officials Group, which meets regularly and reports to Ministers. However, it is important to note that individual government departments have direct responsibility and accountability for their own ODA spend.

Overseas Aid

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to assess official development assistance spending by other Government departments against the International Aid Transparency Index; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: Under the UK Aid Strategy all government departments will aim to achieve a good or very good rating in the Aid Transparency Index by 2020. The Government will make arrangements for an assessment of the aid transparency rating of all departments to be made by 2020. DFID will continue to support departments to achieve this goal.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Humanitarian Aid

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what additional resources her Department has provided to the humanitarian relief operations in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Rory Stewart: In response to the £50 million United Nations flash appeal for the Kasais in April 2017, the UK has committed £4.65 million of new funding for emergency lifesaving humanitarian assistance to the Kasais. Taking into account broader humanitarian support to DRC, the total UK humanitarian support to the Kasais to more than £7.7 million. The UK also provides support to healthcare, WASH and education activities in the region.

Malaria: Disease Control

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the level of global funding available for combating malaria; and what assessment her Department has made of whether that level of funding is adequate to achieve the World Health Organisation target of a 40 per cent reduction in cases and deaths by 2020.

Alistair Burt: The world has made remarkable recent progress in tackling malaria, with malaria deaths falling by 62% between 2000 and 2015. DFID is a leading supporter of the effort to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2020 targets, including a 40% reduction in malaria cases and deaths. We are the second largest donor, contributing 16% of the global spend on malaria control and elimination, with the rest coming from other donors, governments of endemic countries, and the private sector. Funding assessments are conducted by WHO. The estimated global spend on malaria control and elimination in 2015 was US$ 2.9 billion; and the estimated need to meet the targets is US$ 6.4 billion per year by 2020.

Palestinians: Humanitarian Aid

Mr William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians who are being made homeless as a result of property demolition in the West Bank.

Alistair Burt: The UK Government provides emergency response to communities facing demolition and displacement in Area C and East Jerusalem through our contribution to the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). The UK Government continues to raise with the Israeli authorities at the highest level our serious concern at the increase in demolitions of Palestinian properties in Area C of the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, most recently on the 4th April 2017.

Developing Countries

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how the Government plans to safeguard and prioritise the UK international development sector in the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

Alistair Burt: The Government remains committed to spending 0.7% of our Gross National Income on development assistance, and to achieving the UN’s Global Goals and ending extreme poverty by 2030. Once we have left the EU, control over how this money is spent will reside with the UK’s Government and Parliament. We are in dialogue with our partners in the UK international development sector as we negotiate our exit from the EU.

Department for Education

Schools: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her oral statement of 17 July 2017 on school funding, Official Report, column 565, from which projects the £250 million in 2018-19 and £350 million in 2019-20 of funding is being re-allocated to fund increases in the core schools budget.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her oral statement of 17 July 2017 on school funding, Official Report, column 565, from which of her Department's central programmes the £200 million is being redirected from frontline funding for schools.

Nick Gibb: We are looking across all areas of the Department’s budget for efficiencies. We will maintain funding on the highest value areas, particularly the Government’s priorities. As part of this process, we have said that we will release £200m from central programmes that support schools on relatively narrow areas of their work, as we believe strongly that this funding is most valuable in the hands of head teachers.

Schools: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her oral statement of 17 July 2017 on school funding, Official Report, column 565, what efficiencies and savings there will be from her Department's main capital budget excluding healthy pupils capital funding.

Nick Gibb: As my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, set out in her oral statement of 17 July 2017, the government will be investing an additional £1.3 billion in core schools funding in 2018-19 and 2019-20. This is over and above levels of investment in schools set in the 2015 spending review. This additional investment will be funded in full from efficiencies and savings within the department’s budget. As part of this, the department will make savings of £315 million from healthy pupils capital and a further £105 million from unallocated departmental capital.

Schools

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her oral statement of 17 July 2017 on school funding, Official Report, column 565, how the planned 30 new schools to be delivered by the local authority route will be selected.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her oral statement of 17 July 2017 on school funding, Official Report, column 565, what the efficiencies are within the free schools programme that make up the £280 million of saving up to 2019-20.

Mr Robert Goodwill: In delivering the free school programme, including the plans for a further 140 free schools announced at the last Budget, we will work more efficiently to release savings of £280 million up to 2019-20. This will include working more collaboratively with local authorities to provide free schools where there is a shortage of places – so that 30 of the 140 schools are delivered through the local authority free school route rather than the central free schools route.We will announce further details in due course.

Department for Education: Cost Effectiveness

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Statement of 17 July 2017, Official Report, column 565, if she will provide a breakdown of the proposed £420 million in spending efficiencies and savings that her Department plans to make from the main capital budget.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Statement of 17 July 2017, Official Report, column 565, how her Department plans to make a further £95 million in efficiencies and savings to the main capital budget.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Statement of 17 July 2017, Official Report, column 565, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of changes to the main capital budget on fire safety in schools.

Nick Gibb: As my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, set out in her oral statement of 17 July 2017, the government will be investing an additional £1.3 billion in core schools funding in 2018-19 and 2019-20. This additional investment will be funded in full from efficiencies and savings within the department’s budget. As part of this, the department will make savings of £315 million from healthy pupils capital and a further £105 million from unallocated departmental capital.These plans do not include any savings from the schools maintenance budget, which is worth £1.4bn in 2017-18, and they will not affect the department’s ability to ensure school buildings are safe, which remains a priority. Where remedial work is deemed necessary for schools to remain safe for continued use, we will work with local authorities and other responsible bodies to ensure that lack of financial resources will not prevent it going ahead.

Sex and Relationship Education

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the proposed timetable is for the engagement process on the scope and content of (a) relationship education for primary school children and (b) relationship and sex education for secondary school children.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to introduce the regulations under the Children and Social Work Act 2017, relating to the publication of guidance on high quality relationships and sex education teaching in secondary schools and relationships education teaching in primary schools.

Nick Gibb: The Children and Social Work Act (2017) places a duty on my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, to make relationships education mandatory in all primary schools, and relationships and sex education mandatory in all secondary schools, in England.The Government also made a commitment to ensuring that the updated guidance and regulations for these subjects would be age appropriate.The Department intends to consult widely on the content of the curriculum for relationships education and relationships and sex education. This will also inform the content of the regulations and statutory guidance, school practice and quality of delivery. We will ensure the subjects are carefully designed to safeguard and support pupils whilst being deliverable for schools.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Mr Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of secondary schools in England that will not meet the £4,800 floor per pupil funding in (a) 2018-19 and (b) 2019-20; and in each case what estimate she has made of the cost of raising those schools to the floor per pupil amount.

Nick Gibb: We are providing an additional £1.3 billion for schools across 2018-19 and 2019-20 to support the introduction of the national funding formula from April next year. Along with the funding we had already committed for schools at the 2015 Spending Review, this will mean the core schools budget rises from just under £41 billion in 2017-18 to £43.5 billion by 2020. Full details of the arrangements are set out at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/justine-greening-statement-to-parliament-on-school-funding. The national funding formula will provide local authorities with per pupil funding of at least £4,800 for all secondary schools by 2019-20. We will set out further details on the £4,800 per pupil amount and the associated funding on each factor when we publish the consultation response in September.

School Milk

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of (a) levels of support among parents for and (b) the potential health benefits to young children of extending the school nursery milk scheme to include all children in reception classes regardless of age.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We know milk is excellent for children’s growth and development. As part of the School Food Standards, where they apply, lower fat milk or lactose reduced milk must be available to children who want it for drinking at least once a day during school hours. It is a legislative requirement that milk is provided free of charge to pupils who meet the free school milk criteria, and schools may charge all other pupils. The Government has no plans to extend eligibility for free school milk to all children in reception classes or assess the demand from parents. We already assist with the cost of providing milk; schools can take part in the EU School Milk Subsidy Scheme and, as mentioned above, free school milk is provided free of charge to disadvantaged pupils.

Greater Manchester University Technical College

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the total capital and revenue cost to the public purse was of the Greater Manchester University Technical College was in each year since it opened in 2014.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The department publishes final capital costs for all open free schools once projects are completed and are no longer commercially sensitive. The total capital costs for Greater Manchester Sustainable Engineering University Technical College (GMUTC), including construction and acquisition costs, are £9,316,815. The revenue costs are broken down into several elements on the attached table. Information for 2017/18 will be published in due course.



Revenue costs
(Word Document, 12.25 KB)

Schools: Oldham

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of school places in Oldham following the closure of Collective Spirit Free School.

Nick Gibb: My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, considered the impact on school places in Oldham as part of the decision making process for the closure of the Collective Spirit Free School.For future years, Oldham has been allocated £44.2 million by the department for Education for the new school places the local authority reported were needed from 2017 to 2020. Any change in available capacity will be accounted for in future funding allocations.

Schools: Chipping Barnet

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she expects the rebuilding of Cromer Road School and the Pavilion School, Chipping Barnet to commence.

Nick Gibb: The £4.4 billion Priority School Building Programme is rebuilding or refurbishing those school buildings in the very worst condition across the country. There are two phases of the programme covering a total of 537 schools. Under the second phase of the programme, individual blocks of accommodation at 277 schools will have their condition need met. This includes Cromer Road School and the Pavilion Study Centre. The Pavilion Study Centre is currently in the final stages of a feasibility study to consider the options available and determine which one will achieve best value for money. Work will commence on-site once the feasibility is completed and a contractor has been assigned. This is expected to occur between March and May 2018. Cromer Road School has recently appointed a contractor and design development is now underway. Works will commence on site once planning permission has been received. This is expected to occur between January and March 2018.

Schools: Finance

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2017 to Question 873, what discussions she has had with (a) hon. Members representing for London constituencies, (b) councillors from London local authorities and (c) Greater London Assembly members on school funding since 1 January 2017.

Nick Gibb: My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has met with members from across the House to discuss the national funding formula and funding for schools. This includes a meeting on 1 Feburary 2017 with MPs from London, and a DCLG Councillors meeting on 15 March 2017, which was attended by local councillors from across the country, including London.In addition, as Minister for School Standards, I have had meetings with a number of members who represent London constituencies, and local councillors from London Councils. I also took part in a Westminster Hall Debate on School Funding in London in March, with contributions from members from a number of constituencies in London.Through the national funding formula consultation, we have listened to views from all parts of the country. My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced a total increase of £1.3 billion new money over the next two years. As a result of this additional investment , the formula will provide at least a 0.5% per pupil cash increase for every school in 2018-19, and 1% by 2019-20, comparied to its baseline. We will say more about our formula when we publish the full details later in September.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to Question 4640, tabled by the hon. Member for High Peak on 12 July 2017 on children: day care.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 July 2017 to question UIN 4640.http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2017-07-12/4640/.

Schools: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her oral statement of 17 July 2017, Official Report, column 564, if she will publish a list of schools in England which were classified as underfunded in 2017.

Nick Gibb: The details of the formula will be set out in September when we respond in full to the consultation. We will publish indicative allocations for every school and confirm gains for local authorities based on the formula. All local authorities will receive some increase in 2018-19, over the amount they plan to spend on schools and high needs in 2017-18.

Special Educational Needs: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her oral statement of 17 July 2017 Official Report, column 564, whether she plans to protect funding for pupils with additional needs in (a) cash terms or (b) real terms.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We announced an additional £1.3 billion of investment in schools and high needs on 17th July, and confirmed the introduction of the national funding formula from 2018-19. Over the next two years, the core schools budget will be maintained in real terms per pupil.The additional investment will allow us, through the national funding formula, to continue to protect funding for pupils with additional needs, as we proposed in December.The details of the formula will be set out in September when we respond in full to the consultation.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her oral statement of 17 July 2017 Official Report, column 564, whether the three per cent increase in per pupil funding for underfunded schools will be provided in (a) cash terms or (b) real terms.

Nick Gibb: Following the recent announcement of an additional £1.3 billion across 2018-19 and 2019-20, on top of existing spending plans, funding per pupil will now be maintained in real terms up to 2020. The additional investment will provide for a cash increase through the national funding formula of at least 1% by 2019-20 for all schools, compared to their baseline. Those schools that have been underfunded will see cash gains of up to 3% a year in both years.

Schools: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her oral statement of 17 July 2017 Official Report, column 567, what estimate she has made of the value of the core schools budget in 2021-22.

Nick Gibb: As part of the oral statement made by my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, on 17 July, we announced £1.3 billion of funding for schools and high needs across 2018‑19 and 2019-20 in addition to the schools budget set aside at the Spending Review. Spending plans for the years beyond 2019-20 will be set out as part of a future Spending Review.

Church Commissioners

St Wilfrid's Church Scrooby: Public Lavatories

John Mann: To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what progress has been made on the provision of toilets at St Wilfrid's Church, Scrooby, Nottinghamshire.

Dame Caroline Spelman: The parish of Scrooby is currently in interregnum. Having spoken with the churchwarden I understand that the Parish Council, congregation and community have taken the decision to improve the facilities in the nearby village hall, rather than at St Wilfrid’s. The decision was in part a consequence of the difficulty of finding a practical and cost effective way to connect the church with the local sewerage network. The circumstances of this particular case also highlight the wider issue of the capacity of volunteers to take on infrastructure projects in complex historic buildings, alongside their other voluntary duties, in a church where there is a vacancy.The Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham is committed to working with parishes to help them deliver new facilities, including toilets, to enable wider use of church buildings. Further support and advice on building projects is available from the Church Buildings Council of the Church of England: http://www.churchcare.co.uk/

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Elephants: Conservation

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to protect elephants against the illegal wildlife trade.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Tackling the illegal wildlife trade and bringing an end to elephant poaching is a priority for this government. We are taking practical action to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, particularly through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. Many projects funded through the challenge fund work to protect elephants from poaching. Defra also funds the British Army training for park ranges in key African countries. UK law enforcement agencies are active around the world, sharing expertise and intelligence to help tackle poaching and trafficking. Here in the UK there are strict rules controlling the sale of ivory. This is backed up by robust enforcement from Border Force and the National Wildlife Crime Unit. The UK prohibits all commercial trade in raw ivory of any age, going further than the EU regulations. We are considering options for taking further action to address the UK ivory market.

Food: Sales

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote the sale (a) in the UK and (b) globally of food produced in the UK.

George Eustice: We are using the UK’s growing reputation for high quality food and drink, with high standards of animal welfare, traceability and sustainability to increase demand for our great British products. We are opening up public procurement to more small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and local producers. We are raising the profile and reputation of British food and drink overseas through the Food is GREAT campaign. Defra and DIT are also opening new markets and supporting exports in priority markets such as China, USA and India.

Hedges and Ditches

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to preserve verges and hedgerows as valuable reserves for wildlife.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: This is a devolved matter. Hedgerows and verges play an important role in conserving and enhancing biodiversity. Most countryside hedgerows are legally protected and land managers in receipt of Basic Payment Scheme payments are required to protect hedgerows on their land. Through our agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship, we further recognise their valuable role by funding the management of hedgerows to deliver recognised benefits for wildlife, landscape and the historic environment. Local authorities and other public bodies (including county, district and parish councils) in England and Wales have a statutory duty, under section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, to consider the conservation of biodiversity in exercising their functions, including decisions on managing local roadside verges. Defra and the Welsh Assembly have issued guidance for local authorities and other public bodies on implementing their biodiversity duty.

Transport: Exhaust Emissions

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether local authorities are required to consider the potential implications for air quality when making decisions on (a) permanent and (b) temporary transport schemes.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Local authorities have a critical role in achieving improvements in air quality. Under the Local Air Quality Management system, local authorities are required to review and assess air quality in their areas. They consider sources of pollution, including from transport . They designate Air Quality Management Areas and put in place Air Quality Action Plans to address air pollution issues where national air quality objectives are not being met.

Lynx: Kielder Forest

Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential safety risk to the public of reintroducing the Eurasian lynx to the Kielder Forest.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The application to reintroduce the Eurasian lynx to the Kielder Forest will be considered carefully in accordance with international guidelines and taking account of the impacts on affected communities, including public safety and the wider environment.

Cattle: Exports

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban the transport of live cattle overseas when the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: Once we leave the European Union, and in line with our manifesto commitment, we can take early steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter. We are currently considering options.

Animal Welfare: Crime

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many crimes relating to animal cruelty have been reported in each of he last three years.

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have received (a) a fine and (b) a custodial sentence of less than six months for animal cruelty offences.

George Eustice: The number of offenders found guilty and sentenced for offences under Sections 4 to 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in England and Wales from 2014 to 2016 is shown in the table. It should be noted that these figures pre-date the latest Sentencing Council’s guidelines which were introduced in May and, in the case of animal cruelty offences, allow magistrates more flexibility with regard to imposing penalties towards the upper end of the scale. Offenders found guilty and sentenced at all courts of animal cruelty offences (1), England and Wales, 2014 to 2016 (2)(3)(4)  Outcome201420152016Found guilty814622585Sentenced815624585of whichFine14697116Immediate custody825863of whichunder six months815560 (1) Defined as being SS4-8 Animal Welfare Act 2006; (2) figures relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the one selected is that for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe; (3) every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, this data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces, so care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when the data is used; (4) the number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty, as a defendant found guilty in a particular year, and committed for sentence at the Crown Court, may be sentenced in the following year.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice

Sewers

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to upgrade the sewage system and phase out combined sewers.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Sewerage undertakers have duties to provide, maintain and improve a public sewer system to effectually drain their area. The Government’s draft strategic policy statement to Ofwat makes it clear that we expect the regulator to challenge sewerage undertakers to improve planning and investment to meet the wastewater needs of current and future customers, while protecting the environment. Sewerage undertakers must identify solutions that are most effective to carry out their duties. Replacing combined sewers can be part of the solution; elsewhere doing this would be prohibitively expensive. We continue to work with the industry to make sure that sewer overflows that remain an unavoidable part of such systems in extreme conditions are properly controlled. In particular: Mandating monitoring of the vast majority of overflows by 2020 so their performance is understood, allowing water users and customers to hold water companies to account.Introducing frequency triggers to permits for overflows associated with bathing and shellfish waters from 2017. This should ensure that, as pressures on sewer systems increase, their performance does not deteriorate.Working collaboratively with the industry group 21st Century Drainage to develop tools to adequately address the highest spilling overflows.

Air Pollution: EU Law

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether EU Directive 2008/50/EC on Air Quality will be transposed into UK law.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The EU Ambient Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) has already been transposed into UK law.

Agriculture: Glyphosate

James Cartlidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on the use of glyphosate by farmers.

George Eustice: The Government believes that effective pesticides should be authorised where the scientific evidence shows they do not pose unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. The European Food Safety Authority has identified no safety concerns arising from the use of glyphosate and UK scientists agree with that conclusion.

Air Pollution

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of developing an air quality strategy to improve the capacity of the Government to meet its air quality targets.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Cleaning up the UK’s air quality and cutting harmful emissions is a priority for this Government. In July the Government launched the UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations. This will require local authorities to produce local air quality plans which reduce NO2 levels in the shortest possible time. In addition to our work on NO2 we will deliver an updated Clean Air Strategy in 2018. This will set out how we will work towards our international commitments to significantly reduce damaging emissions of five major air pollutants by 2030.

Sewage: Boats

James Cartlidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of waste water being released from residential and non-residential boats.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Department does not hold information in relation to this request.

Eels

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the fishing industry's compliance with the Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: Compliance with the Eel (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 is assessed against the provision of: catch data for eels less than 12cm long; recorded consignments of live eels from aquaculture businesses; and 60% of live eels (12 cm or less) placed onto the market. The Environment Agency 2016/17 assessment of industry compliance received 390 catch returns from 452 authorised fishers and is pursuing the remainder. All other data was provided.

Fly-tipping

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many actions were taken against fly-tipping in (a) Barnsley and (b) nationally in each of the last seven years; and how many of those actions took the form of fixed penalties.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The number of recorded actions taken against fly-tipping for both England and for Barnsley over the last seven years is set out in the table below together with the number of fixed penalty notices. Actions relating to fly-tipping for Barnsley and England - 2009/10 to 2015/16  EnglandBarnsley Total ActionsFixed Penalty NoticeTotal ActionsFixed Penalty Notice2009/10537,12325,87473702010/11568,05232,96369902011/12489,81539,31452502012/13425,23535,43350302013/14499,56336,83513402014/15514,91438,14915202015/16494,46035,8881930 sourced from the Fly-tipping Module in WasteDataFlow which replaced Flycapture in October 2015 Fly tipping data is routinely collected at a local level and collated nationally. The data is published annually on the GOV.UK website.Local authorities adopt different strategies for dealing with fly tipping. Some have well developed procedures for issuing fixed penalty notices. Alternative enforcement options include prosecution, vehicle seizure, formal caution and warning letter.

Department for Exiting the European Union

EU Immigration: Migrant Workers

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to paragraph 6 of his Department's policy paper Safeguarding the position of EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU, published on 26 June 2017, what rights will be accorded to frontier workers who work in the UK but live in another EU Member State.

Mr Robin Walker: We want to reach a reciprocal agreement for EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU as quickly as possible. We have now held positive and constructive discussions with the European Union on the issue of frontier workers.We have agreed those qualifying as frontier workers at the day of exit will be included within the final Withdrawal Agreement, in order to protect their ability to continue to live their lives broadly as they do now. The UK will reflect further on what technical definition should be applied in order to categorise a frontier worker and both the UK and the EU will consider how this will work and be applied in practice.

Brexit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will publish or place in the Library records of his negotiation meetings with his EU counterparts.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department for Exiting the European Union does not plan to publish or place in the Library records of negotiation meetings with the European Union. To ensure that Parliament is kept informed during the negotiations, the Secretary of State has committed to delivering an oral statement to Parliament after each negotiating round. The Secretary of State will deliver an oral statement on 5 September following the second and third rounds of the negotiations which took place during recess.

UK Trade with EU

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what his most recent assessment is of the prospects for frictionless trade with the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: We have been clear that the Government’s objective remains to secure trade with Europe that is tariff-free and as frictionless as possible. We will pursue an ambitious and comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU to achieve this. Both the UK and EU Member States benefit from our close trading relationship – the EU is the UK’s largest export market and the UK is the largest goods export market for the EU27 taken as a whole – so it is in both of our interests. Furthermore, we start from a unique position – with close regulatory alignment, trust in one another’s institutions, and a spirit of cooperation stretching back decades.

Attorney General

Ivory: Sales

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Attorney General, how many prosecutions there have been for the illegal trade in ivory in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: A number of offences controlling the international trade in endangered species are created by the COTES Regulations 1997. Regulation 3: offences concerning false statements or notifications.Regulation 4: offences of altering or wrongfully using a permit, certificate or import notification.Regulation 6: contravening conditions or requirements of permits or certificates.Regulation 8: offences of purchasing, acquiring, selling any specimen of a species for commercial purposes. Although it is not possible to identify the number of prosecutions of particular offences, records are held showing the overall number of offences in which a prosecution commenced in the magistrates’ courts. The table below shows the number of offences, rather than defendants, charged by way of the COTES Regulations 1997 and Section 170(2) CEMA 1979 during each of the last five years. A single defendant may be charged with more than one offence.  2012-20132013-20142014-20152015-20162016-2017Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 { 3 }112011Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 { 4 }10100Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 { 6 }04000Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 { 8 }2352333256Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 { 170(2) }755699826856749Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System It is not possible to separately identify offences which concern the illegal trade in ivory or ivory products from other unlawful international trade in endangered species.

Prison Sentences

Grahame Morris: To ask the Attorney General, if he will provide funding to advertise and raise public awareness of the process to refer unduly lenient sentences.

Jeremy Wright: The Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme allows anyone to ask me to review certain sentences passed in the Crown Court and, where appropriate, to invite the Court of Appeal to consider increasing them. My office already does much to publicise the scheme. We publish ULS referrals on the website and work with local and national print and broadcast media to publicise them. Details of how to refer a case appear on the web site https://www.gov.uk/ask-crown-court-sentence-review. My Office also promotes sentence increases on social media and distributes infographics online to increase public awareness. In 2016, more victims and their families got justice than ever before, after 141 criminals had their sentences increased under the ULS scheme. That year, we received 837 referrals, a 17% increase from the previous year, and the Solicitor General or I asked the Court of Appeal to look at 190, compared to 135 in 2015.

Wales Office

European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill: Wales

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what legal advice he has sought on whether a Legislative Consent Motion is required from the Welsh Assembly before the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017 becomes law.

Alun Cairns: The Supreme Court has been clear that the devolved legislatures do not have a veto over the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Government is committed to positive engagement with the devolved administrations to ensure that withdrawal from the EU is a successful and smooth process for the whole of the UK. The Government is seeking the consent of the National Assembly for Wales and the other devolved legislatures for the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

Sport: Wales

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on increasing participation rates of children in Wales in sport.

Alun Cairns: The UK Government is keen to encourage any schemes which help to increase participation rates of children in sport. However this is a devolved issue in Wales and therefore the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

Tidal Power: Cardiff

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps his Department is taking to promote renewable energy through tidal power in Cardiff Central constituency.

Alun Cairns: With 750 miles of coastline, Wales is perfectly placed to exploit energy from our tides through a variety of developing technologies, including tidal stream or wave turbines. In addition, the UK Government is currently considering the role tidal lagoons could play in the UK’s energy mix.

Radicalism: Cardiff Central

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will discuss the effectiveness of the deradicalisation programme in Cardiff Central constituency with the Home Secretary.

Alun Cairns: The Home Secretary and I have regular discussions on a range of issues.The Government has made clear that there should be no safe space online for terrorists and their supporters to radicalise, recruit, incite, or inspire. We are supporting community-based initiatives that challenge Daesh’s core communications and provide credible counter narratives.The Prevent Programme is fundamentally about safeguarding and supporting vulnerable individuals to stop them becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It works best when delivered in partnership with communities. In the last year, we have considerably increased our programme of Prevent activity through our network of Prevent professionals.

Mental Health Services: Neath

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the adequacy of provision of sport in Neath constituency to help to tackle mental health issues in primary aged children.

Alun Cairns: The UK Government is keen to encourage any schemes which will increase the participation rates of children in sport and which may also help to tackle mental health issues. However, both of these matters are devolved and therefore the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

Radicalism: Neath

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he is taking to protect children in Neath constituency who are at risk of radicalisation.

Alun Cairns: There is no single pathway to radicalisation for Islamist inspired, Far Right, or any other form of terrorism, and our radicalisation model applies to all forms of terrorism. The introduction of the Prevent Duty has embedded consideration of the risk of radicalisation in the day-to-day work of frontline statutory partners. It covers schools, colleges, universities, health, local authorities, police and prisons. 142 community based projects were delivered in the UK in 2015/16 reaching over 42,000 participants. Over half of these projects were delivered in schools, aimed at increasing young people’s resilience to terrorist and extremist ideologies.

Marine Environment: Vale of Clwyd

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent steps the Government has taken to promote marine life in the Vale of Clwyd.

Alun Cairns: Policy on the promotion of marine life in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Government and the National Assembly for Wales.

Tidal Power: Vale of Clwyd

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps his Department is taking to promote tidal power in the Vale of Clwyd as a source of renewable energy.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps the Government is taking to promote renewable energy through tidal power in the Vale of Clwyd.

Alun Cairns: With 750 miles of coastline, Wales is perfectly placed to exploit energy from our tides through a variety of developing technologies, including tidal stream or wave turbines. In addition, the UK Government is currently considering the role tidal lagoons could play in the UK’s energy mix.

Radicalism: Neath

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the effectiveness of the Government's de-radicalisation programmes in Neath constituency.

Alun Cairns: The Home Secretary and I have regular discussions on a range of issues.The Government has made clear that there should be no safe space online for terrorists and their supporters to radicalise, recruit, incite, or inspire. We are supporting community-based initiatives that challenge Daesh’s core communications and provide credible counter narratives.The Prevent Programme is fundamentally about safeguarding and supporting vulnerable individuals to stop them becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It works best when delivered in partnership with communities. In the last year, we have considerably increased our programme of Prevent activity through our network of Prevent professionals.

Veterans: Neath

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the availability of sporting facilities for former service personnel with disabilities in Neath constituency.

Alun Cairns: The UK Government is committed to supporting our veterans through the Armed Forces Covenant. However, many of the services covered by the covenant, including the provision of and access to local sporting facilities, are devolved and therefore the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

Dangerous Dogs: Wales

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he has taken to ensure that dangerous dogs in (a) Neath constituency and (b) Wales are electronically chipped.

Alun Cairns: As of 6 April 2016, all dogs in Great Britain had to be identified by a microchip and registered on a database. We estimate that over 94% of dogs in Great Britain are microchipped. More broadly in relation to controlling dangerous dogs, it is a criminal offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control, with a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment in the case of an attack resulting in the death of a person; 5 years’ imprisonment in the case of an injury to a person; and 3 years’ imprisonment in the case of an attack on an assistance dog. In addition, police and local authorities can issue Community Protection Notices to owners of dogs involved in low level dog nuisance incidents allowing intervention before a dog becomes dangerously out of control. Failure to comply with such notices can result in a fine of up to £2,500.

Sports: Children

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on participation rates of children in sport in Wales.

Alun Cairns: The UK Government is keen to encourage any schemes which help to increase participation rates of children in sport. However this is a devolved issue in Wales and therefore the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

Radicalism: Cardiff Central

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps the Government is taking to protect children in Cardiff Central constituency who are at risk of radicalisation; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Cairns: There is no single pathway to radicalisation for Islamist inspired, Far Right, or any other form of terrorism, and our radicalisation model applies to all forms of terrorism. The introduction of the Prevent Duty has embedded consideration of the risk of radicalisation in the day-to-day work of frontline statutory partners. It covers schools, colleges, universities, health, local authorities, police and prisons. 142 community based projects were delivered in the UK in 2015/16 reaching over 42,000 participants. Over half of these projects were delivered in schools, aimed at increasing young people’s resilience to terrorist and extremist ideologies.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to respond to the 2016-17 annual report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We are grateful to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for his annual report which identifies important areas for improvement in our prison system. We take these issues extremely seriously.We have regular, constructive discussions with the Ombudsman and we shall continue to do so.We have created a new unit within HM Prison and Probation Service to ensure relevant recommendations from the Ombudsman are being taken forward in a timely manner and to track how they are being implemented by prisons.

Legal Ombudsman

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the office of the Ombudsman will be placed on statutory footing.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Robust, independent scrutiny is an essential part of our prison system. We take reports from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) extremely seriously and will continue to ensure the PPO has the access and cooperation they need from prisons to fulfil their critical functions.We will continue to seek an opportunity to legislate on these matters when Parliamentary time allows.

Employment Tribunals Service: Social Security Benefits

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of appeals to the Tribunals Service in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England related to (i) personal independence payments, (ii) employment and support allowance, (iii) income support, (iv) jobseeker's allowance and (v) tax credits were successful in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dominic Raab: The table below contains the requested information. This is a further breakdown of data published regularly in the Tribunal and Gender Recognition Certificate Statistics Quarterly.  Proportion of appeals decided in favour of the appellant between January and March 2017 1 PIP2ESA3ISJSATax Credits4Coventry72%68%~ 5~ 5~ 5West Midlands 666%57%61%726% 737%England 865%69%45%43%38% 1. % decisions in favour represents the number of cases found in favour of the appellant as a percentage of those cleared at hearing. Cleared at tribunal hearing excludes those cases disposed of without the need for a hearing (i.e. decisions retrospectively superseded, withdrawn prior to hearing, or struck out).2. Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals), which replaced Disability Living Allowance and was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).3. Includes Employment and Support Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Reassessments).4. Includes Working Family Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit.5. Indicates the population where the decision was in favour for five appeals or fewer.6. West Midlands includes the venues: Birmingham, Coventry, Nuneaton, Hereford, Stoke, Wolverhampton, Worcester, Shrewsbury, Worcester (Fownes), Kidderminster, Coventry (CMCB).

Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of employment tribunal fees on people's ability to access justice.

Dominic Raab: On 26 July 2017, the Supreme Court handed down judgment in the case of R (Unison) v Lord Chancellor. The Court found that the Employment Tribunals Fees scheme was unlawful and the relevant Fees Order was quashed.The Government took immediate steps to stop charging fees and announced that arrangements would be put in place to refund people who had paid the fees. We will bring forward our plans in due course.

Prison Officers: Death

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Prison Officers Association on recent trends in the number of deaths among prison officers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Since his appointment in June 2017, the Justice Secretary has met with the POA and discussed a wide range of topics, including his priorities in respect of prison safety and violence reduction. We are committed to making our prisons safe, decent and secure places to work and the government has taken steps with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that any offender who assaults a member of our staff is dealt with through appropriate legal channels.

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government plans to commission an independent review of the implementation and effectiveness of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Phillip Lee: The reforms to the scope of civil legal aid were designed to refocus funding on those who need it most and on the most serious cases in which legal advice and representation are justified. There are no current plans to commission an independent review of the implementation and effectiveness of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Prison Sentences

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much would be saved within his Department if prisoners in England and Wales were jailed at the EU average.

Dr Phillip Lee: Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, taking account of the offences and penalties set by Parliament. It is not possible to say what savings would be made by a reduction in the incarceration rate to the European average because of the varying impacts of different measures to reduce the rate of imprisonment.

Courts: Eastbourne

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he will take to engage with local stakeholders on planning alternative provision when Eastbourne magistrates court, county court and family court are closed.

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will keep Eastbourne magistrates court, county court and family court open until alternative provision has been made.

Dr Phillip Lee: Local stakeholders and the Hon. Member’s predecessor as the MP for Eastbourne were informed in April 2017 that the HMCTS Property Board had agreed alternative provision arrangements for Eastbourne. The courthouse at Eastbourne is expected to close in October 2017. The Eastbourne Traffic Commissioner’s Office will be used for hearings where appropriate. In addition, video link facilities for victims and witnesses will also be available at a local Police facility. Notice of closure has been provided to local legal stakeholders and is also displayed on public notices outside the building.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time for personal independence payment appeal hearing was in (a) Barnsley and (b) nationally in each year since 2010.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time for an employment support allowance appeal hearing was in (a) Barnsley and (b) nationally in each year since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee: The table below contains the requested information.Average Clearance Time4Year1Personal Independence Payment2Employment and Support Allowance3NationalBarnsley5NationalBarnsley52009 - 2010  12.611.12010 - 2011  19.416.22011 - 2012  22.822.42012 - 2013  17.216.72013 - 20149.4~21.321.92014 - 201514.220.026.822.32015 - 201615.719.015.718.52016 - 201715.615.214.415.2 1 Financial year April – March.2 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) , which replaced Disability Living Allowance introduced on 8 and was April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).3 Includes Employment and Support Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Reassessments).4 Average Clearance Time – time taken for appeal receipt to appeal outcome. Includes appeals disposed of with and without the need of a tribunal hearing.5 Social Security and Child Support data are attributed to the hearing venue nearest to the appellants’ home address, as such these data are based on the Barnsley venue. ~ Indicates the population where the decision was in favour with five appeals or fewer. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data available. The data may differ slightly to that of the published statistics as these data were run on a different date.

Immigration: Legal Aid Scheme

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children under 18 (a) applied for and (b) were granted legal aid through the Exceptional Case Funding Scheme in immigration cases in 2016-17.

Dr Phillip Lee: Applications to the Exceptional Case Funding scheme for immigration matters, by age of applicant, April 2016 to March 2017FY application receivedUnder 1818-2425 and overUnknownTotalApr 2016 - Mar 201763127807101,007 Applications to the Exceptional Case Funding scheme for immigration matters, which were granted1, by age of applicant, April 2016 to March 2017FY application receivedUnder 1818-2425 and overUnknownTotalApr 2016 - Mar 2017449854156881 Granted by 31 May 2017

Ministry of Justice: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the potential number of Acts or parts of Acts that will be subject to repeal as a result of the provisions in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

Dr Phillip Lee: Government departments have been analysing the UK statute book and directly applicable EU law in their areas of responsibility to enable an assessment of the scale of the changes needed. This is likely to include the repeal, but also the amendment, of provisions in Acts but we are not in a position to give a sense of scale at this time. In the Government White Paper on the Repeal Bill [‘Legislating for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union’], published on 30 March 2017, we estimated around 800 - 1,000 EU-exit related Statutory Instruments will be required.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) over-payments and (b) under-payments were made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in (i) 2015-16 and (ii) 2016-17.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many staff have been recruited to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority since the 2015-16 financial year.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether claims can be made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority at the (a) time of an offence, (b) time of reporting of an offence to the police and (c) on conclusion of a trial and following a finding of guilt.

Dr Phillip Lee: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme) is a government funded scheme which is designed to compensate victims of violent crime in Great Britain. The rules of the Scheme and the tariff for awards paid under it are approved by Parliament. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) administers the Scheme and decides all claims independently of Ministers and Parliament. The CICA identified (a) 10 claims where an overpayment was made and (b) 11 claims where an underpayment was made in 2015-16. All underpayments were rectified with the exception of one claim (amounting to an £80 underpayment) where the applicant could not be traced. The CICA identified (a) 5 claims where an overpayment was made and (b) 3 claims where an underpayment was made in 2016-17. We will also seek to rectify all underpayments for the financial year 2016/17. There is no minimum time period that must pass after the incident giving rise to the criminal injury before a claim can be made to the CICA. The Scheme requirements are that applicants send their claim so that it is received as soon as reasonably practicable after the incident and in any event no later than two years after the date of that incident. Additional provision exists for applicants who were aged under 18 at the time of the incident:If the incident was reported to the police before an applicant turned 18, and no-one made a claim on their behalf, they can apply to the CICA until the day of their 20th birthday.If the incident took place before the applicant turned 18, but was not reported to the police at the time, they can apply to the CICA within two years from reporting the incident to the police.The CICA can only extend these time limits where due to exceptional circumstances an application could not have been made earlier; and the evidence provided in support of the application means that it can be determined without further extensive enquiries by a claims officer.We advise applicants not to wait until the conclusion of criminal proceedings before applying for compensation.The CICA recruited a total of 108 staff during the financial year 2016-2017. The number of full time equivalent staff employed in CICA as at 31 March 2017 was 293.5. This is an increase from 255 as at 31 March 2016.

Drugs: Crime

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted for the supply and production of Class (a) A, (b) B and (c) C drugs in each of the last five years; and how many of those people received the maximum custodial sentence permitted.

Dr Phillip Lee: The number of offenders found guilty at all courts of offences related to drug production and supply, by class of drug, can be viewed below (Table 1): Table 1 Offenders found guilty at all courts of drug production and supply offences, by class of drug, England and Wales, 2012 to 2016 (1)(2)(3)(4)Class of drugOffence20122013201420152016Class AProduction394232819Supply2,1962,4262,4362,3652,640Class BProduction6,4946,2405,5594,6683,573Supply9961,0791,1281,2141,036Class CProduction1492611510Supply9174615944 (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Production, or being concerned in the production, of a controlled drug is an offence under Section 4(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (4) Supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug or being concerned in the doing of either activity by another is an offence under Section 4(3) Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.Ref: PQ 6438

Prison Sentences

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that prison is reserved only for the most dangerous, violent and persistent offenders.

Dr Phillip Lee: Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, using the powers set by Parliament to allow the courts to deal effectively and appropriately with offenders.

Probation

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will end privatisation within the probation service, increase staffing and resources for the service, and give the service a greater role in managing and working with offenders in the community.

Dr Phillip Lee: Private and third sector providers play a crucial role in delivering probation services which protect the public and reduce reoffending. The department has contracts with 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs), comprising both private and third sector organisations, who work alongside the National Probation Service (NPS) to supervise and reform offenders. We have recently amended our contracts with CRCs to reflect more accurately the fixed costs of delivering services to offenders. This will enable CRCs to focus on delivering critical operational services. Contracts already require CRCs to have a sufficient level of trained staff, and we closely monitor and robustly manage providers to make sure they fulfil their contractual requirements. In 2017-18 the NPS is running several national recruitment campaigns and is on course to recruit over 1,000 additional staff to train as Probation Service Officers and Probation Officers. As set out in a written statement laid on 19 July 2017, we continue to work with providers to explore further improvements we can make to the delivery of probation services.

Reoffenders: Sentencing

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will end the discounting of sentences for repeat offenders.

Dr Phillip Lee: There are no plans to change the law on reduction in sentence for a guilty plea. When a guilty plea is made a reduction in sentence is appropriate as it enables cases to be dealt with quickly, saves considerable costs, and, in the case of an early plea, saves victims and witnesses from the stress of having to give evidence. The courts must take into account the Sentencing Council guideline on Reduction in Sentence for a Guilty Plea when determining the size of reduction applicable. The guideline provides a sliding scale of reductions depending on the point at which the plea is made. The courts also take a range of other factors into consideration when sentencing, including any previous convictions.

Fines

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will introduce new fine levels including a fixed amount and an amount variable according to an offender's crime.

Dr Phillip Lee: For offences sentenced in the magistrates’ courts, within the maxima fixed by Parliament, courts must have regard to the nature of the offending and to the means of the offender when setting a fine. Section 87 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders 2012 allows the Secretary of State to amend by order the standard scale of fines for summary offences. Fine maxima are kept under review but there are no current plans to use this power.

Coroners

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he has made any assessment of whether autism diagnoses should be recorded in coroners' reports.

Dr Phillip Lee: The purpose of a coroner’s investigation is to determine who the deceased was and how, when and where they came by their death. The coroner may refer to the deceased’s autism in their inquest conclusion if they consider that it is relevant to the death.

Rape: Trials

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many of the rape cases which went to trial the complainant dropped the charges against the defendant in each of the last five years.

Dr Phillip Lee: The information requested can only be obtained at disproportionate cost

Leigh Day

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish all emails from his Department to the Solicitors Regulation Authority on Leigh Day.

Dr Phillip Lee: Legal services in England and Wales are independently regulated in accordance with the framework laid down by the Legal Services Act 2007. The Government fully respects the important and independent role the Solicitors Regulation Authority plays in upholding standards in the legal profession. The Department has no plans to publish any email exchanges with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Sexual Offences

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will update the 2013 Overview of Sexual Offending in England and Wales joint official statistics bulletin on sexual violence.

Dr Phillip Lee: The data contained in the chapters of “An Overview of Sexual Offending” continues to be updated and published. Since the publication, all three departments involved have developed the sources and outputs to provide for greater detail on sexual offences and rape. Latest data from the constituent chapters, including new presentations, can be found here: Crime Survey for England and Wales (ONS):https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcomunity/crimeand justice/bulletins/crimeenglandandwales/yearendingmar2017Police activity and outcomes (Home Office):https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2016-to-2017Court proceedings and sentencing (MoJ):https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2016Court timeliness (MoJ):https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-court-statisticsOffender histories data (MoJ) – see all offending history tools:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2016

Rape: Convictions

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what (a) number and (b) proportion of rape trials ended in conviction in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Dominic Raab: The number of offenders convicted for the offence of rape and the percentage of defendants convicted can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/614418/cjs-outcomes-by-offence-tool-2016.xlsx Data is recorded on an offender basis and not a trial basis: the later could only be gathered at disproportionate cost.

Rape: Convictions

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of rape in each of the last five years in England and Wales pleaded (a) guilty and (b) not guilty.

Dominic Raab: The number of offenders found guilty of rape at the Crown Court, by plea, England & Wales, 2012 - 2016 is shown in the following table: Offenders found guilty of rape at the Crown Court, by plea, England & Wales, 2012 - 2016 (1)(2)  PleaYear 20122013201420152016Guilty447408403386414Not guilty671683723834830  Total1,1181,0911,1261,2201,244 (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.Ref: PQ 6850

Ministry of Justice: Welsh Language

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which online services provided by his Department are available in the Welsh language on request only.

Dr Phillip Lee: We consider requests for online information and service provision to be provided in line with the scoring system in our Welsh Language Schemes.

Cabinet Office

Public Sector: Coventry South

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of constituents in Coventry South constituency worked in the public sector in each year for which data is available.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ5797
(PDF Document, 167.13 KB)

Social Services

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2017 to Question 1153 on social services, what steps he is taking to ensure that the consultation into social care will receive the views of those with dementia and carers of people with dementia.

Damian Green: The Government is committed to listening to people’s views on how to reform the social care system, to ensure it is sustainable for current and future generations and that the quality of care improves.The Prime Minister has been clear that there will be a full and open engagement on the issues, and that people will have opportunities to put forward their views. The Government wants to hear a range of views to inform its approach, in particular from those using services and their carers, as well as from members of the public, representative groups, commissioners and providers of services.

Young People: Coventry South

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people aged between 18 and 25 in Coventry South constituency were on the electoral register for the 2017 General Election.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ5792
(PDF Document, 108.99 KB)

Young People: Coventry South

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people aged between 18 and 25 in Coventry South constituency were recorded in the latest census estimate.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



UKSA Response to PQ5932
(PDF Document, 107.55 KB)

Cabinet Office: Carbon Emissions

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the level of carbon emissions from his Department's buildings in each year since 2015.

Caroline Nokes: Figures for the department's overall carbon emissions are published annually in the Cabinet Office's Annual Report & Accounts. Carbon emissions from the Cabinet Office estate are as follows: 2015 - 5,950.34 Tonnes of CO2e2016 - 5,092.77 Tonnes of CO2e2017 (Jan-Mar) - 1425.5 Tonnes of CO2e Total CO2e emissions = 12468.61 The Cabinet Office is fully committed to meeting the Government's Greening Government Commitments (GGC). The GGC departmental commitment is to reduce carbon emissions from a 2009/10 baseline by 35% by 2020; to date the department has achieved a reduction of over 50% in its overall emissions reductions.

Cabinet Office: Consultants

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible spent on external consultants and advisers in each year since 2015.

Caroline Nokes: The overall amount spent on external consultancy by the Cabinet Office is published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts available on page 52 on the below link. The Crown Commercial Service executive agency hold this information in their own accounts, which are available online. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2015-to-2016 Accounts for 2016-17 will be published in due course.

Cabinet Office: Advertising

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was spent on advertising by (a) his Department and (b) each of its (i) non-departmental public bodies and (ii) executive agencies in each year since 2015.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested is not held centrally and therefore can only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Cabinet Office: Consultants

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether, and at what cost, consultants have been contracted to carry out (a) marketing, (b) polling, (c) focus group and (d) other promotional activity relating to his Department's responsibilities in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested is not held centrally and therefore can only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Cabinet Office: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Hywel Williams: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the potential number of Acts or parts of Acts that will be subject to repeal as a result of provisions in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

Chris Skidmore: Government departments have been analysing the UK statute book and directly applicable EU law in their areas of responsibility to enable an assessment of the scale of the changes needed. This is likely to include the repeal, but also the amendment, of provisions in Acts but we are not in a position to give a sense of scale at this time. In the Government White Paper on the Repeal Bill [‘Legislating for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union’], published on 30 March 2017, we estimated around 800-1,000 EU-exit related Statutory Instruments will be required.

Cabinet Office: Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which of his Department's online services are only available in the Welsh language on request.

Caroline Nokes: Cabinet Office is committed to ensuring that the needs of Welsh language speakers are recognised and met. The GOV.UK website, run by Cabinet Office, gives every central government organisation the ability to publish content in Welsh. Government departments, who operate services on the GOV.UK domain, are accountable for the provision of these services in the Welsh language, and in this they are guided by the requirements of their own Welsh Language schemes. Cabinet Office online services available in Welsh in addition to GOV.UK include GOV.UK Verify and Register to Vote. Cabinet Office will carefully consider all requests for translation of new services into the Welsh language as part of the evaluation of evidence of user need.

Cabinet Office: Official Hospitality

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many receptions his Department has hosted for representatives of print and broadcast media since 2015; how much each such reception cost; and how many people attended each such reception.

Chris Skidmore: Costs of hospitality for the Cabinet Office are published in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts which is available on the gov.uk website. The annual report and accounts for 2016/2017 will be released in due course.

Cabinet Office: Sick Pay

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost of sickness pay to staff in his Department was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Caroline Nokes: The cost of sickness pay to staff in the Cabinet Office was £353K between 1 June 2016 and 31 May 2017.

Electoral Register

Royston Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Electoral Commmission's recommendation for electors that reside in multiple properties choosing a single address to cast a vote in UK Parliamentary general elections.

Chris Skidmore: Voting more than once at a General Election or at other national polls such as a referendum is a crime which carries a financial penalty. We take this matter very seriously. I have raised this issue as a priority with the Electoral Commission, and will consider carefully the findings of their report on electoral registration at the 2017 General Election, as well as their upcoming report on the administration of that poll.It is possible to determine whether an individual has voted twice at a General Election by checking the marked register of those who have voted. If anyone has evidence of someone voting twice, then they should report this to their local returning officer and to the police. I have also written to the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) to reiterate the Government's support for the police to make every effort to investigate reports of criminal behaviour in relation to elections. The Government will continue to consider if further steps should be taken to ensure the integrity of the electoral system and where opportunities could exist to reiterate that voting more than once at the General Election or other national polls is illegal.

Electoral Register

Royston Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of harmonising the electoral register that is compiled and maintained by Electoral Registration Officers around the UK.

Chris Skidmore: The electoral register is already harmonised in terms of how it is compiled, who is eligible to be registered and the information which must be included. The Government has no plans to legislate to further harmonise the electoral register. For citizens, accessing the electoral register has been made considerably quicker and easier by online registration. For individuals and organisations with a legitimate interest in accessing the information included in the registers, a number of provisions already exist that allow them to do so.

Electoral Register: East Ham

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of eligible electors in East Ham constituency who are not registered to vote in the 2017 UK General Election.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ6139
(PDF Document, 112.48 KB)

Zero-hours Contracts: Barnsley East

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in Barnsley East constituency are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in Barnsley East constituency aged between 16 and 24 are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



UKSA Response to PQ6285
(PDF Document, 125.15 KB)

Cabinet Office: Research

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what research his Department has commissioned from The Hay Group; and of what value those contracts are.

Caroline Nokes: Since January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

Prime Minister: Brexit

Hywel Williams: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much and what proportion of his Office's expenditure has been identified as relating to its work on the UK leaving the EU.

Caroline Nokes: The proportion of Cabinet Office annual expenditure allocated to work relating to the UK’s exit from the UK is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Civil Servants: Pay

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has received the results of any consultation on Civil Service pay levels in the last 12 months.

Caroline Nokes: The Cabinet Office has not publicly consulted on Civil Service pay levels in the last 12 months.

Government Departments: Procurement

Peter Dowd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Government purchasing currently comes from small and medium-sized enterprises.

Caroline Nokes: I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Edinburgh North and Leith on 18 July 2017 to UIN: 4273.

Public Sector: Jarrow

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of people in Jarrow constituency worked in the public sector in each year for which data is available.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



UKSA Response to PQ6673
(PDF Document, 168.1 KB)

Voting Behaviour

Jo Churchill: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure people can vote only once in an election.

Chris Skidmore: Voting more than once at a General Election or at other national polls such as a referendum is a crime which carries a financial penalty. We take this matter very seriously. I have raised this issue as a priority with the Electoral Commission, and will consider carefully the findings of their report on electoral registration at the 2017 General Election, as well as their upcoming report on the administration of that poll. It is possible to determine whether an individual has voted twice at a General Election by checking the marked register of those who have voted. If anyone has evidence of someone voting twice, then they should report this to their local returning officer and to the police. I have also written to the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) to reiterate the Government's support for the police to make every effort to investigate reports of criminal behaviour in relation to elections. The Government will continue to consider if further steps should be taken to ensure the integrity of the electoral system and where opportunities could exist to reiterate that voting more than once at the General Election or other national polls is illegal.

Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will seek to repeal the Fixed Terms Parliament Act 2011.

Chris Skidmore: The Government stated in its manifesto its intention to repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. Under the Act, the Prime Minister will make arrangements in 2020 for committee to carry out a review of the operation of the Act and, if appropriate, to make recommendations for its repeal or amendment. The Government believes that it is right for the committee to review the operation of the Act, before repealing it, to inform decisions about the nature of the repeal.

Electoral Register: Proof of Identity

Jim McMahon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2017 to Question 2214, on electoral register: proof of identity, which local authorities his Department is currently engaged with.

Chris Skidmore: We continue to be open to discussion with any local authority interested in voter ID pilots. We will make an announcement in due course once we have confirmed which local authorities are participating.

Rape

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made to the proportion of rapes in England and Wales which were unreported in each of the last five years.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



UKSA Response to PQ6848
(PDF Document, 254.18 KB)

Civil Servants: Pay

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish in bands of £25,000 the number of (a) men and (b) women employed in the Civil Service who earn over £100,000 per annum.

Caroline Nokes: The Civil Service already discloses a significant amount of senior pay data. In the annual release of Civil Service Statistics the Office for National Statistics publishes a range of detailed pay information, including: numbers of staff by responsibility level and gender, median and mean salaries by gender, gender pay gap data, the number of staff earning over £100,000 and other pay information. The latest release is available at:https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/civilservicestatistics In addition, since 2010 the Government has published an annual list of individuals in departments, agencies and Non-departmental Public Bodies earning £150,000 and above. Departments also publish organograms every six months that include individualised salary information for their most senior staff.